Social Justice BDA Support Call For Ceasefire
Social Justice Bermuda [SJB] said they join “other global social justice movements and human rights groups calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza.”
A spokesperson said, “Social Justice Bermuda [SJB] stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine. We must be clear in calling this situation what it is: this is not a conflict, this is not a war, this is a genocide.
“Social Justice Bermuda joins other global social justice movements and human rights groups calling for an immediate ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. The atrocities committed by Hamas militants on Saturday, October 7th do not, in any way, justify atrocities in kind by the Israeli State against Palestinian civilians.
“The conflict between Palestine and Israel occurs within the context of a brutal 56 year occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel, the implementation of an Apartheid regime in Israel towards Palestinians, and the provocations over the last 12 months of the most far-right Israeli Government of recent times,” SJB said. “This is not in any way to condone the actions of October 7th, only to provide context.”
Noting that they do “not condone antisemitism but we are critical of the actions of Israel and Zionism, which are very different from Judaism itself,” the group added that “it is important to note that not all Palestinians are Hamas or Islamic Jihad” and said they have “strong concerns about the media sharing unverified and inflammatory stories.”
The statement by Social Justice Bermuda– which can be read in full on their website – also cited a number of UN General Assembly Resolutions and noted that “acts of collective punishment and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure [including schools, hospitals, power plants, water treatment plants, apartment buildings, etc.] constitute war crimes.”
SJB called for actions including the “immediate cessation of hostilities towards the people of Palestine,” the “immediate provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine,” the” immediate end of the occupation, including the removal of illegal settlers throughout the West Bank, and the return of Shebaa Farms to Lebanon and the Golan Heights to Syria” and said “they endorse the global Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement to end international support for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law” and listed some Bermuda-based companies in their full statement.
They added, “We call on the people of Bermuda to join us and stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine in their pursuit of self-determination and freedom from apartheid and human rights abuses. #FreePalestine #CeasefireNow.”
