Paul Murphy on Gaza: condemns Western complicity and protest crackdown
Paul Murphy spoke about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, condemning what he called Western establishment complicity and the use of aid 'as a weapon of war' against starving Gazans. He urged support for Palestinian resistance to 'genocide and occupation', denounced the criminalisation of peaceful protest and described violent suppression of activists at demonstrations including the Global March to Gaza.
Murphy said it was 'another week of unspeakable horror in Gaza', with dozens or scores of people killed every day, many while queuing for food. He accused aid being used as a weapon of war by the 'Israeli-US-backed so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation'.
He stated 'Support Palestinian resistance to genocide and occupation' and argued that dismantling the army responsible for the slaughter is necessary. He criticised the reaction to protest slogans and said such responses reveal an upside-down moral order.
Murphy warned of investigations into artists and attempts to conflate protests against genocide with anti-Semitism. He said Western countries, including the US, Europe and Ireland, are seeing a spread of authoritarian measures that seek to shut down criticism and criminalise peaceful protest.
He recounted that many peaceful activists at the Global March to Gaza went to Brussels to demand the EU suspend its trade association agreement with Israel and were violently suppressed. He noted Irish activists were arrested and carried away for simply singing a Palestine rendition of 'Bella Chao'.
Murphy closed by quoting Bob Villain, saying 'we are not the story' and arguing activists are a distraction from the main issue. He urged those who care for human life and freedom of speech to speak up to 'Free Palestine'.
Allegations of genocide and aid weaponisation
Murphy said it was 'another week of unspeakable horror in Gaza', with dozens or scores of people killed every day, many while queuing for food. He accused aid being used as a weapon of war by the 'Israeli-US-backed so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation'.
Call to support Palestinian resistance
He stated 'Support Palestinian resistance to genocide and occupation' and argued that dismantling the army responsible for the slaughter is necessary. He criticised the reaction to protest slogans and said such responses reveal an upside-down moral order.
Crackdown on dissent and accusations of antisemitism
Murphy warned of investigations into artists and attempts to conflate protests against genocide with anti-Semitism. He said Western countries, including the US, Europe and Ireland, are seeing a spread of authoritarian measures that seek to shut down criticism and criminalise peaceful protest.
Protests, arrests and the Global March to Gaza
He recounted that many peaceful activists at the Global March to Gaza went to Brussels to demand the EU suspend its trade association agreement with Israel and were violently suppressed. He noted Irish activists were arrested and carried away for simply singing a Palestine rendition of 'Bella Chao'.
Closing appeal and quotation from Bob Villain
Murphy closed by quoting Bob Villain, saying 'we are not the story' and arguing activists are a distraction from the main issue. He urged those who care for human life and freedom of speech to speak up to 'Free Palestine'.
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Transcript
Another week of unspeakable horror in Gaza, with dozens or scores of people killed every single day, many of them, maybe most of them, while queuing for food. Another week of aid being used as a weapon of war against starving Gazans by the Israeli-US-backed so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Another week of distraction, reframing, and excuses by most of the Western establishment who enable, who fund, who arm this genocide. Death, death to the IDF. That should be a statement of just good sense. Dismantle the army that is responsible for this slaughter. Support Palestinian resistance to genocide and occupation. But it speaks to the upside-down world that we live in, where Bob Villain chanting this simple slogan was treated as an outrage. It provoked more investigations into artists speaking up against genocide. More attempts to conflate protests against genocide with anti-Semitism. Because in the US, across Europe, Ireland included, we are seeing the spread of authoritarianism to shut down, to oppose, to prevent criticism and opposition to Israel. A crackdown and criminalising of peaceful protests. It is only a few more days before Palestine action will likely be officially prescribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. Last week, many of the peaceful activists I was with at the Global March to Gaza were in Brussels to demand that the EU suspend its trade association agreement with Israel. They were violently suppressed, including Irish activists arrested and carried away for simply singing a Palestine rendition of Bella Chao. I finish with some other words of Bob Villain that haven't gotten the same coverage. We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up to Free Palestine.