Letter I Wrote to My Members of Congress after Watching Documentary "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone"

I encourage you to watch the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone. Then take action. Attend your local peace group meeting. Ask people to watch the documentary. Write letters to your members of Congress. Become systematic with your consumer boycott by using the Boycat app. Do something. This is a copy of the email I sent to my members.

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Subject Header: Have You Watched the Documentary, "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone?"

Last night, a group of us in Augusta, Georgia watched the BBC documentary "Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone."

You can watch it here: https://archive.org/details/gaza-how-to-survive-a-warzone_202502

The movie follows three children and some of the adults in their lives during the ongoing genocide that Israel, using USA funds and benefiting from USA political and military support, is perpetuating.

One of the children, Renad, copes by making cooking videos and posting them in social media. Another, Zakariyya, volunteered at al-Aqsa Hospital helping the paramedic Said transport the dead and wounded.

The movie ended during the period immediately following the ceasefire of January 15, 2025. The children survived, and they were extremely happy that (most of) the USA-funded Israeli attacks ended.

Of course, since then, the USA-supported Jewish supremacist state has resumed its massacres of Palestinians. I could hardly sleep last night wondering if the people from the documentary were still alive. Was Said one of the 15 medical and rescue personnel Israel summarily executed on March 23, 2025? https://apnews.com/article/gaza-medics-killed-israel-ambulances-f34b6ecc985d9127265a400bd52c72b7

I found one of Renad's social media channels. Her most recent post is dated March 13, 2025. Is she still alive?

Zakaria complained in the movie about lack of food. The Zionist colonizers have prevented the entry of supplies into Gaza since late February 2025.

And then my thoughts drift to the votes of my elected representatives in the US Congress: Senator Ossoff, Senator Warnock and Representative Rick Allen (GA-12). I ask myself, "Do they think the voters don't know that the USA-Israel killing spree continues? Do they expect people of conscience to support them just because their opponents in the next election might be 'worse'?"

I urge you to speak publicly for a ceasefire and vote for a cessation of all assistance to Israel, an end to hostilities with Yemenis enforcing international law through their blockade of Israeli shipping in the Red Sea , lifting the siege of Gaza and a resumption of funding of UNRWA.

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Note that Renad has posted again around April 15, 2025.

Recommendation: "Minor Detail" by Adania Shibli

 

The incident took place on a morning that would coincide, exactly a quarter of a century later, with the morning of my birth. Of course, this may seem like pure narcissism, the fact that what drew me to the incident, what made it begin haunting me, was the presence of a detail that is really quite minor when compared to the incident's major details, which can only be described as tragic. It's completely plausible, though, for this type of narcissism to exist in someone. It's an innate tendency, one might say, toward a belief in the uniqueness of the self, toward regarding the life one leads so highly that one cannot but love life and everything about it. [p. 58]

In 2021, the One Book, Many Communities project of Librarians and Archivists with Palestine selected Minor Detail by Adania Shibli and translated by Elisabeth Jacquette.

Don't stop talking about Palestine.

Recommendation: "Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear" by Mosab Abu Toha

 

I'm not going to pretend I have put enough effort into reading Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, a collection of poems by Mosab Abu Toha (Twitter), to write a review. Professor Mosab is a Palestinian from Gaza. As I've mentioned in another blog entry, poetry uses a language which requires the use of brain regions which for me are quite undeveloped. Nevertheless, I'm recommending this book for a few reasons:

• When I did put effort into thinking about the poems, Mosab's words rewarded me.
• I listened to an interview and found Mosab to be engaging. He has another virtual interview May 14, 2022 in which you can "meet" him.
• The published volume includes photographs with thoughtful captions and a written interview with Mosab.
• I don't want anything to do with any activist in USA, especially Muslim, who thinks supporting Palestinians incurs too high a cost.

Free eBook: "An Army Like No Other: How the Israel Defense Force Made a Nation" by Haim Bresheeth-Zabner

The Israeli government may speak of peace, but they have developed an arms industry that is one of the largest in the world. In light of the ongoing violence, we've made An Army Like No Other - a history of Israel and the IDF - free to download: https://t.co/vPVT3fCFcO pic.twitter.com/Gvjkn4P7rW

— Verso Books (@VersoBooks) May 14, 2021

Free eBook - "Ten Myths About Israel" by Ilan Pappe

We've made Ten Myths About Israel by Ilan Pappe free to download on our website: https://t.co/HFWLK863cy

In this groundbreaking book Israeli historian Ilan Pappe examines the most contested ideas concerning the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel. pic.twitter.com/SAlqP6Kvxp

— Verso Books (@VersoBooks) May 21, 2021

Stream Palestinian Filmmaker Elia Suleiman's Films for Free May 21-28

Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman to stream all his films for free https://t.co/AX4qGDbkGN

— Usman Butt (@TheUsmanButt) May 17, 2021

The streaming is through the Eventive platform. Register for the films and Elia Suleiman's talk here.

Saqi Books - Free eBooks on Palestine - Available Through May 17, 2021

 Check out this great offer from Saqi Books. Free ebooks on Palestine through May 17, 2021.

H/t Arab Lit.

Review: Fear and Self-Loathing in Gaza by Ahmed Masoud

Fear and self-loathing in Gaza | @SelmaDabbagh reviews "Vanished" by @masoud_ahmed http://t.co/qdvtkH9ges pic.twitter.com/fSMlxzXlhd

— Electronic Intifada (@intifada) August 4, 2015

I have not read the book.

ATL Discusses "Mornings in Jenin" by Susan Abulhawa, Jan 31, 2015, 6pm

This book has also been translated into Arabic. This blog entry is an adaptation of an e-mail I received from Ingrid Torsay through a mailing list. See if this is going on in a city near you.
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Atlanta is participating in the One Book, Many Communities project, organized by Librarians and Archivists with Palestine. We will discuss Mornings in Jenin by Palestinian-American author Susan Abulhawa. Please join us for a lively discussion and a pot luck supper:

31 January, Saturday, 6:00 PM
Our Lady of Lourdes (cafeteria)
25 Boulevard NE
Atlanta, GA  30312

The 'One Book, Many Communities' project by Librarians and Archivists with Palestine aims to introduce readers to the richness of Palestinian literature, and create a broader awareness and understanding of Palestinian history and the struggle for self-determination."

Communities throughout the world will be reading and discussing Mornings in Jenin. Just a few of the places are Rome, Venice, Bologna, Trieste, Naples, and 3 or 4 more in Italy; Dèvillac, France; Tel Aviv, Israel; Malmö and Stockholm in Sweden; Ramallah, Palestine; Quebec and Toronto in Canada; and several cities in the U.S.

Everyone is welcome. The Atlanta-Fulton Public Library has four copies available. Come even if you have not finished reading. Contact information: Ingrid Torsay (404) 438-6598 or by e-mail

Update: Jan 16, 2015 23:15: The author Susan Abulhawa is excited about the worldwide response to this project.

I just searched #lap1book, not realizing how much is already happening online with it. A tremendous and heartfelt THANK YOU to you all!!
— susan abulhawa (@sjabulhawa) January 16, 2015

Updated February 17, 2015: Yousef Munayyer's review of the book.

Play Dramatizes Israeli Soldiers' Testimonies of Atrocities of Occupation

"It's What We Do" attempts to bring reality of Israeli soldiers' testimonies to US audiences.
Josh Ruebner of US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation recommended this project. Please consider supporting it.

Check out promo 4 new play by @azizatwit on Israeli soldiers' testimony to @BtSIsrael on brutality to Palestinians https://t.co/y66hEFDMzf
— Josh Ruebner (@joshruebner) December 11, 2014

Pam Nice is involved in the project.

Film: Where Should the Birds Fly? by Fida Qishta -- Now Available

I had earlier promoted funding of this movie. It is now available by DVD and by streaming through Distrify. The film's website has a link to a guidebook.

Support Steven Salaita, Academic, Activist and Target of Zionists

On Corey Robin's blog, I learned that the University of Illinois Chancellor has rescinded an offer of employment to Professor Steven Salaita.

In the meantime, do something for Steven Salaita. Write a note to University of Illinois Chancellor Phyllis Wise (best to email her at both chancellor@illinois.edu and pmischo@illinois.edu), urging her to rescind her rescission. ... read more ...

Professor Salaita has a website (not working when I wrote this), a Twitter account and a Goodreads author page.

Another way of supporting Professor Salaita is to read and promote his books. I own The Uncultured Wars: Arabs, Muslims and the Poverty of Liberal Thought. Consider buying or sending other books for me to review or submitting a review yourself.

The most recent publication I found was an essay entitled "Normatizing State Power: Uncritical Ethical Praxis and Zionism" in The Imperial University: Academic Repression and Scholarly Dissent, edited by Piya Chatterjee and Sunaina Maira.

Updated 2014-08-06: Mohammad Fadel of the University of Toronto published the letter he sent. There is a change.org petition for people to sign.

Updated 2014-08-07. Electronic Intifada reports that Professor Salaita was "fired," not that his job offer was revoked. US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has issued an action alert with suggested measures you can take. Illinois AAUP Committee. A Statement on Steven Salaita and UIUC.

Updated 2014-08-09. Rather than update with each important article, I'm simply going to give you the link to all Corey Robin's posts tagged Steven Salaita and Electronic Intifada posts tagged Steven Salaita.

Download for Free: The Case for Sanctions Against Israel, edited by Audrea Lim

Leading international voices argue for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
In July 2011, Israel passed legislation outlawing the public support of boycott activities against the state, corporations, and settlements, adding a crackdown on free speech to its continuing blockade of Gaza and the expansion of illegal settlements. Nonetheless, the campaign for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) continues to grow in strength within Israel and Palestine, as well as in Europe and the US. ---- read more & download eBook or buy paperback

I don't have a Kindle and I'm not sure how to use an .epub file, so I used http://www.zamzar.com/ to convert the .epub file to a PDF.

Verso Books is an excellent publisher!

Citizen Strangers: Palestinians and the Birth of Israel’s Liberal Settler State by Shira Robinson

Rod Such reviewed Citizen Strangers: Palestinians and the Birth of Israel’s Liberal Settler State by Shira Robinson on May 7, 2014 in the Electronic Intifada.  Stanford University Press is the publisher.

Review: The Battle for Justice in Palestine by Ali Abunimah

Ben White reviewed The Battle for Justice in Palestine by Ali Abunimah for Middle East Monitor on March 19, 2014. You can buy it at the publisher's website.

my review of @AliAbunimah's new book -- The Battle for Justice in Palestine http://t.co/kL4xv1CJ5Q via @middleeastmnt
— Ben White (@benabyad) March 20, 2014

I have not read the book.

"Gaza Writes Back" & Iran "Manufactured Crisis" Tours, USA, Mar-Apr 2014

Gaza writers & G. Porter tour US-wide soon! M. Peled in S. Africa. Other authors speaking... - http://t.co/CG0aZeUJM1
— Just World Books (@Justworldbooks) March 15, 2014

In a previous blog entry, I referred to peace activist David Swanson's review of the book. I'd also encouraged people to support Gareth Porter's book Manufactured Crisis.

"A World Not Ours" by Mahdi Fleifel to Air on PBS's POV on August 18, 2014

August 18 - "A World Not Ours" by Mahdi Fleifel

A World Not Ours is a passionate, bittersweet account of one family's multi-generational experience living as permanent refugees. Now a Danish resident, director Mahdi Fleifel grew up in the Ain el-Helweh refugee camp in southern Lebanon, established in 1948 as a temporary refuge for exiled Palestinians. Today, the camp houses 70,000 people and is the hometown of generations of Palestinians. The filmmaker's childhood memories are surprisingly warm and humorous, a testament to the resilience of the community. Yet his yearly visits reveal the increasing desperation of family and friends who remain trapped in psychological as well as political limbo.

PBS Doc Series 'POV' Announces a 2014 Lineup That Kicks Off With 'When I Walk' | Indiewire http://t.co/syMahGvmQe @povdocs
— PBS (@PBS) March 13, 2014

You can also read (in Arabic) a review by Mahmuud Umar in Al-Mudun dated February 25, 2014.

محمود عمر في #المدن عن الوثائقي الفلسطيني #عالم_ليس_لنا http://www.almodon.com/culture/3e899c70-ebba-4f58-9f65-bb286fa18648 #سينما #فلسطين #مهدي_فليفل #اوسكار pic.twitter.com/e28eQDCDtd
— Al Modon (@AlmodonNp) February 25, 2014

Sometimes a PBS station chooses not to air a nationally syndicated episode, so make sure you look for this and ask your station to air it if it is not on its schedule.

To-Read: Shattered Hopes: Obama's Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace by Josh Ruebner

Josh Ruebner is on a book tour promoting Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli-Palestinian Peace. If you are near any of the stops, attend. If there's no stop near you, organize one! Here are some video recordings of Mr. Ruebner.

On May 23, 2014, an Augusta, GA peace group helped arrange for Josh Ruebner to speak, and here is a recording.

Review: Black Liberation and Palestine Solidarity by Lenni Brenner and Matthew Quest

Black Liberation and Palestine Solidarity by Lenni Brenner and Matthew Quest

Authors Lenni Brenner and Matthew Quest collected in this volume some of the essays they published between 1993 and 2013 analyzing the positions of prominent figures in the movement for black liberation towards Zionism and Palestinian resistance to Zionism. These positions were reflections of their owners' evolving understandings of the liberation struggles in the United States.

Review: Gaza Writes Back

The Story of #Gaza by @davidcnswanson http://t.co/O7W79Ce2mW #Palestine #Books #Israel #MENA
— MyFDL (@MyFDL) January 2, 2014

David Swanson reviewed Gaza Writes Back at firedoglake.com. You can purchase Gaza Writes Back from Just World Books. I have not read the book.


Gaza Writes Back