How Israel’s Detractors Responded to October 7: The first 24 Hours

All Out For Palestine

These past few days have seen numerous “October 7th” commemorations marking the one year anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel. Haters of Israel meanwhile have been holding their own “counter October 7” events – ignoring what actually made October 7 THE date to commemorate.

A myth has taken hold that Israel’s “Detractors” in the West were driven to their “militancy” by Israel’s actions over the past year, including of course the reported casualty toll in Gaza. But in reality, the “Campaign against Israel” in the United States (which of course, was in full force long prior to October 7th), sprung into action on that very-first day – before Israel had lifted a finger.

Within literally hours of the news of Hamas’ slaughter; Israel’s “Detractors” (haters!) engaged in a combination of praising, denying, “ignoring” and “putting into context” whatever Hamas might have done. Absent was any outrage or condemnation of Hamas actions; or any expressions of sympathy for the victims and their families. And of course from those very-first days: There was a massive surge in antisemitic incidents in the United States and Western Europe; something which has continued to this day.

There were certainly early calls by “Detractors” for a ceasefire. But not from any apparent desire to end the conflict and achieve reconciliation with Israel. It was more to permit Hamas to garner its gains and to seek to prevent Israel from responding against Hamas. From that very first day; words such as “Occupied Palestine,” “root cause” “Genocide” and “Israeli apartheid” were thrown around (as of course they had been before October 7th.) There were instantaneous calls for US pressure on Israel and halting arms and aid to Israel.

Just a small sampling of some of those responses made within those first 24 hours

A March in New York was organized for the following day (October 8).  “Tomorrow, join us to stand with the people of Palestine, who have the right to resist apartheid, occupation & oppression. Free Palestine” March VIDEO – “All Out For Palestine Rally” Times Square, New York City.  There was also an October 8 rally in Washington DC

American Muslims for Palestine and its offshoot Americans for Justice in Palestine Action issued a joint statement October 7 “Israeli Violence is the Root Cause of Violence and Unrest in the Region” (and uttered not a single condemnation of Hamas action with their only reference to Hamas’ slaughter a passing reference to “….
the root cause of what has unfolded in the last 24 hours.”

The umbrella group, the United States Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), which includes among others, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) issued an October 7 statement  “USCMO Stands in Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Calls for Immediate End to Atrocities in Occupied Territories” “….reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their right to freedom from the Israeli occupation…We call upon the United States government… to exert pressure on the occupation regime to immediately cease these atrocities.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) -October 7th statement – “expresses grave concern over the escalating violence between Hamas and Israel. MPAC condemns the taking of innocent lives by both parties…To truly understand what is happening, we must look to the source of the problem; an ongoing occupation in violation of international human rights law that has left the Palestinian people, in particular Gazans, stripped of their basic rights and human dignity. By actively, and often violently, preventing their pursuit of a self-defined identity, national autonomy, and global recognition, Israeli occupation and the world’s continued silence has offered Hamas and other groups the political vacuum needed to propel themselves into positions of leadership and justify their violent attacks….

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) October 7 statement “On Palestinian Resistance –  The unprecedented and ongoing resistance by Palestinians from Gaza, that caught Israel by surprise, did not happen in a vacuum. This is the response of a people pushed beyond endurance….To overlook or minimize these facts is to lack depth in understanding and compromise moral clarity. Palestinians are asserting their right to self-determination and unequivocally demanding their freedom. Never underestimate the will of an oppressed and occupied people to be free.”

The National Lawyers Guild (NGL) October 8th Statement “NLG International emphasizes Palestinian right to resist, stands in solidarity with Palestine….


legitimacy of the right of the Palestinian people to resist illegal military occupation, apartheid and ethnic cleansing…struggle against the settler colonial state of Israel …..


The National Lawyers Guild urges public recognition of the right to resist unlawful occupation “by all available means, including armed struggle…Instead of condemning Palestinian resistance, the US is obliged under international law to cut off all military, financial and political support that enables Israel’s brutal occupation.”

The anti-Zionist Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) issued a Statement October 7 which spoke of “The Root of Violence is Oppression. Inevitably, oppressed people everywhere will seek — and gain — their freedom. We all deserve liberation, safety, and equality. The only way to get there is by uprooting the sources of the violence, beginning with our own government’s complicity.”

Code Pink next day (October 8) were rallying in Washington DC “ we called on Biden to stop arming apartheid and impose sanctions on Israel!”

Code Pink“… Occupation, Colonization, and Apartheid are all violence against a people….October 7 was an act of resistance because the world has not responded to peaceful calls for justice in Palestine. Sending troops and munitions to the defense of Israel will not engender peace but rather perpetuate the oppression that fuels the need for resistance.”

Conclusion

The depressing reality is that there has been a surge in the public denigration, defamation and delegitimization of Israel and in many cases of Jews (often disguised as “Anti-Zionism (with some Jews – “As a Jew” very-much joining in these efforts). Back in vogue “Israel has no right to exist.”

Obviously not every criticism of Israel is “anti-Israel” let alone Antisemitic (and  very-few people claim that it is). And there are unquestionably genuine supporters of Israel, who were stunned and horrified by Hamas’ heinous October 7th attack, who over subsequent months; became disturbed by the casualties figures and damage in Gaza (and now Lebanon). That’s an issue for another day. 

What has been shown time and time again is that for many Detractors; this is not in its essence a fight over Israeli policies or actions or seeking a better life for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. It is not even seeking progress towards the much-touted “Two State Solution.” Or peace and reconciliation with Israel. For too-many Detractors:  This is a struggle over Israel’s very existence. The chant heard at so many anti-Israel protests for many many years of “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.” Detractors know what the chant means. They chant what they mean. They mean what they say. This is what they want and what they strive for. And it’s not peace with Israel.

G’mar Chatima Tovah