✦

ryn ▸ 23 ▸ they/them ▸ lesbian ▸ disabled

[stuckinapril]

Wanted to let you guys know that Let’s Talk Palestine has just launched fundsforgaza, an initiative created for the purpose of spotlighting families in urgent need of emergency funds. This list highlights families who’re trying to evacuate Gaza, but which aren’t getting enough attention. Please donate if you can—and whether or not you can, spread this to as many people as possible. The delay between this second and the next could make a difference in whether a family gets to live or not.

[stuckinapril]

They will also be rotating through various campaigns to ensure that families get prioritized in turn. That way no family that’s “further down” the proverbial list gets neglected.

[brackishkittie]

THREAD OF INFORMATION FROM BISAN’S RECENT TIKTOK LIVE ON FEBRUARY 12TH — user ItsMaybeMadi on X ( Twitter ) PLEASE READ!!

LINKS IN THREAD:

BISAN’S GOFUNDME.

DONATE TO UNRWA.

PLEASE SHARE THIS !!! REBLOG/SHARE DO WHATEVER. PALESTINE NEEDS YOU.

[stil-lindigo]

The UNRWA is concerned that if they do not receive more funding they will run out by the end of February please spread this message

in case any of you missed it, despite the ICJ's ruling for Israel to facilitate MORE aid into Gaza, the global west has responded by cutting funding to UNWRA, which is responsible for delivering significant amounts of aid into Gaza, as well as surrounding areas such as Lebanon. The countries cutting funding consist of the US, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, Swritzerland, Italy, Germany, Finland, Canada and Japan. This was all due to a claim by Israel that members of UNWRA were Hamas-members or sympathisers which, at the end of the day, is a claim that concerns only 12 members in a total of 30,000.

Without proper funding, UNWRA is likely to run out of resources by February of this year (only another month) and urges the countries that have suspended donations to reconsider. This is a blatant move from the colonialist countries of this world to starve Palestinians even further when they are already facing unforeseen levels of famine.

Please take some time out of your day to call your reps, your political leaders and urge them to restart their funding. In the meantime, here is a link to donate to the UNWRA.

UNRWA human development and humanitarian services encompass primary and vocational education, primary health care, relief and social service

[florisnemis]

A hope of brighter days ahead🍉🫒

Please don't turn a blind eye to cruelty and lose sight of humanity. Boycott, donate, spread the word, keep an open mind and heart, whatever is in your capacity to help, we shouldn't allow such awful things to happen in the world and have no reaction.

[gothhabiba]

🍉🇵🇸 eSims for Gaza masterpost 🇵🇸🍉

Which eSims are currently being called for?

As of January 29:

Nomad (regional Middle East plan): code NOMADCNG

Holafly (Israel and Egypt plans): code HOLACNG

Be sure you're looking at the original post, as this will be continually updated. Any new instructions about replying to emails for specific types of unactivated plans will also appear here.

Check the notes of blackpearlblasts's eSim post, as well as fairuzfan's 'esim' tag, for referral and discount codes.

How do I purchase an eSim?

If you cannot download an app or manage an eSim yourself, send funds to Crips for eSims for Gaza (Visa; Mastercard; Paypal; AmEx; Canadian e-transfer; or to me (venmo @gothhabiba; paypal.me/Najia; cash app $NajiaK, with note “esims” or similar; check the notes of this post for updates on what I've purchased.)

You can purchase an eSim yourself in an app, or on desktop (with the exception of Simly, which does not have a desktop site). See this screenreader-accessible guide to purchasing an eSim through each of the five services that the Connecting Humanity team is calling for (Simly, Nomad, Mogo, Holafly, and Airalo).

Send a screenshot of the plan's QR code to [email protected]. Be sure to include the app used, the word "esim," the type of plan (when an app has more than one, aka "regional Middle East" versus "Palestine"), and the amount of data or time on the plan, in the subject line or body of your email.

Message me if you have any questions or if you need help purchasing an eSim through one of these apps.

Which app should I use?

Try to buy an eSim from one of the apps that the team is currently calling for (see above).

If the team is calling for multiple apps: Nomad is best in terms of data price, app navigability, and ability to top up. Mogo has the worst user interface in my opinion. Holafly has the most expensive data, but plans can be topped up. Simly Middle East plans cannot be topped up; Simly Palestine ones can.

How much data should I purchase?

Mirna el-Helbawi has been told that large families may all rely on the same plan for data (by setting up a hotspot). Some recipients of eSim plans may also be using them to upload video.

For those reasons I would recommend getting the largest plan you can afford for plans which cannot be topped up: namely, Simly "Middle East" plans. Note that Holafly plans can only be topped up on desktop, not through the app.

For all other plans, get a relatively small amount of data (1-3 GB, a 3-day plan, etc.), and top up the plan with more data once it is activated.

Is there anything else I need to do?

Check back regularly to see if the plan has been activated. Once it's been activated, check once a day to see if data is still being used, and how close the eSim is to running out of data or to expiring.

If the eSim hasn't been activated after three weeks or so, reply to the original email that you sent to Gaza eSims containing the QR code for that plan.

If you purchased the eSim through an app which has a policy of starting the countdown to auto-expiry a certain amount of time after the purchase of the eSim, rather than only upon activation (Nomad does this), then also reply to your original e-mail once you're within a few days of this date. If you're within 12 hours of that date, contact customer service and ask for a credit (not a refund) and use it to purchase and send another eSim.

How do I top up a plan?

See this guide on how to tell if your plan has been activated, how to top up plans, and (for Nomad) how to tell when the auto-expiry will start. Keep topping up the eSim for as long as the data usage keeps ticking up. This keeps a person or family connected for longer, without the Connecting Humanity team having to go through another process of installing a new eSim.

If the data usage hasn't changed in a week or so, allow the plan to expire and purchase another one.

What if I can't afford a larger plan, or don't have time or money to keep topping up an eSim?

I have set up a pool of funds out of which to buy and top up eSims, which you can contribute to by sending funds to my venmo (@gothhabiba), PayPal (paypal.me/Najia), or cash app ($NajiaK) (with note “esims” or similar). Check the notes of this post for updates on what I've purchased, which plans are active, and how much data they've used.

Crips for eSims for Gaza also has a donation pool to purchase esims, but I don't know about their practices regarding topping them up.

What if my eSim has not been activated, even after I replied to my email?

Make sure that the QR code you sent was a clear screenshots, and not a photo of a screen; and that you didn’t install the eSim on your own phone by scanning the QR code or clicking “install automatically."

Possible reasons for an eSim not having been activated include: it was given to a journalist as a back-up in case the plan they had activated expired or ran out of data; there was an error during installation or activation and the eSim could no longer be used; the eSim was installed, but not activated, and then Israeli bombings destroyed the phone, or forced someone to leave it behind.

An eSim that was sent but couldn’t be used is still part of an important effort and learning curve. Errors in installation, for example, are happening less often than they were in the beginning of the project.

Why should I purchase an eSim? Is there any proof that they work?

Israel is imposing near-constant communications blackouts on Gaza. The majority of the news that you are seeing come from Gaza is coming from people who are connected via eSim.

eSims also connect people to news. People are able to videochat with their family for the first time in months, to learn that their family members are still alive, to see their newborn children for the first time, and more, thanks to eSims.

Some of this sharing of news saves lives, as people have been able to flee or avoid areas under bombardment, or learn that they are on evacuation lists.

Why are different plans called for at different times?

Different eSims work in different areas of the Gaza Strip (and Egypt, where many refugees currently are). The team tries to keep a stockpile of each type of sim on hand.

[sugas6thtooth]

[stil-lindigo]

The UNRWA is concerned that if they do not receive more funding they will run out by the end of February please spread this message

in case any of you missed it, despite the ICJ's ruling for Israel to facilitate MORE aid into Gaza, the global west has responded by cutting funding to UNWRA, which is responsible for delivering significant amounts of aid into Gaza, as well as surrounding areas such as Lebanon. The countries cutting funding consist of the US, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, Swritzerland, Italy, Germany, Finland, Canada and Japan. This was all due to a claim by Israel that members of UNWRA were Hamas-members or sympathisers which, at the end of the day, is a claim that concerns only 12 members in a total of 30,000.

Without proper funding, UNWRA is likely to run out of resources by February of this year (only another month) and urges the countries that have suspended donations to reconsider. This is a blatant move from the colonialist countries of this world to starve Palestinians even further when they are already facing unforeseen levels of famine.

Please take some time out of your day to call your reps, your political leaders and urge them to restart their funding. In the meantime, here is a link to donate to the UNWRA.

UNRWA human development and humanitarian services encompass primary and vocational education, primary health care, relief and social service

[fallahifag-deactivated20240722]

The skateboarding scene in Palestine is one of our most unique yet powerful forms of protest and resistance against the illegal Israeli occupation. Skateboarding in Palestine is far more than a sport or hobby; it is a form of resistance and empowerment. Riding a skateboard might seem like a simple act - but to Palestinians, it is a way to express their identity, defy oppressive forces, and reclaim agency over their bodies, land, and rights to movement.

Skateboarding in Palestine first gained popularity in the early 2000s in the West Bank. Palestinian skaters took matters into their own hands, constructing makeshift skate parks in abandoned buildings and empty lots. These spaces became more than recreational areas; they became symbols of empowerment and resistance for Palestinian youth. This act was a unique form of protest by allowing Palestinians to reclaim public spaces that were often damaged due to the occupation forces. In a land where movement is restricted and access to certain areas is limited, Palestinian skaters transformed overlooked spaces into vibrant skate parks. The act of reclaiming these spaces was a way to peacefully assert their right to challenge the limitations imposed upon them when it came to the use of public areas. Palestinians will not be confined or silenced by the occupation, and skateboarding is one of the many ways this sentiment is showcased.

Organizations and initiatives, such as SkatePal, have played a crucial role in supporting and developing the skateboarding scene in Palestine by building skateparks, providing equipment, and offering lessons. Initiatives like this create a safe space for young Palestinians who are often forced to give up a lot of their childhood joy to the occupation. Skateboarding fosters a much needed sense of community that Israel has tried to stifle for decades. Palestinian skaters also participate in global competitions and events to showcase their skills on an international stage!! This raises awareness about their ongoing struggles and, more importantly, their unwavering resilience.

Skateboarding serves as a means for Palestinians to express their identity and existence. In a genocidal, oppressive state, where freedom, creativity, and individuality are often suppressed, the act of skateboarding itself becomes a powerful statement of resistance against the occupation. It visually represents qualities that are intrinsic to the Palestinian spirit. Skateboarding empowers Palestinian youth by providing them control over their bodies and movement in their land.

In Palestine, skateboarding is not just a sport - it is a culture of reclaiming ownership, fostering confidence, independence, and resilience.

(None of these photos belong to me)

[mysharona1987]

[reachfolk]

also worth noting that the daily death toll likely hasn't declined at all; our ability to quantify it has.

israel has bombed the health ministry and every hospital in gaza. multiple hospitals are entirely nonfunctional, and all of them have lost at least a good chunk of their functionality and are at full capacity. there's still thousands missing under rubble. i don't even know if the numbers this article is using account for deaths from starvation, hypothermia, and illness ⁠— those deaths are equally the fault of israel as the deaths from missile strikes.

not only is this headline dismissive, it's also 100% misleading and untrue. this is a perfect example of what warmongering propaganda looks like.

[doorhine]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bisan’8 - حكواتية (@wizard_bisan1)

Update from Bisan (1/28/24)

[corvidaemnit]

In order to show my support for palestine, I thought I would make a post— in typical bird nerd fashion— highlighting some information about one of the many symbols of freedom for the palestinian people: the palestine sunbird.

you’ve seen this bird everywhere lately I’m sure,

so, you may be wondering.. why is this bird so important?

In 2013, Israel campaigned to remove ‘palestine’ from the bird’s name. this failed, however, when the palestine wildlife society (PWS) petitioned to instead adopt it as palestine’s national bird as a direct defiance of the campaign.

in 2015, the palestine sunbird was officially declared the national bird of palestine.

the palestinian artist khaled jarrar designed a border control stamp featuring the sunbird with which he stamped passports as a cry for freedom.

more recently, khaled jarrar has also created these postal stamps for the same message— in defiance of israel’s efforts to erase palestine.

here you can find an incredible, short documentary detailing his work across the years to use his art as a protest against the plight of the palestinian people.

another palestinian artist, rasha eleyan, uses the sunbird in her work as a motif for the strength and boldness of palestinian women:

(source)

the palestinian poet tamim al-barghouti has tied the palestine sunbird’s beauty to resilience, in saying: “whenever you face injustice or roughness, remember to defend yourself by finding beauty… document, prove, and defend it because all beauty is resistance.”

the palestine sunbird is a symbol of hope and strength. It’s a symbol of fighting back against the odds and refusal to go quietly into the night— refusal to be erased.

continue to support palestinian artists.

continue to support palestine.

raise the voices of those who now, more than ever, need to be heard.

from the river to the sea, palestine will be free.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Petition for Canada to stop arming Israel

In case you haven’t seen it yet: here’s a petition for Canada to stop arming Israel. https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Sign/e-4745

[fatzorro]

Here’s a proper link to the petition. And some additional details:

This is not a random change.org petition that’s not going to be seen by anyone important - this is a petition authorized by a Canadian member of parliament that will be reviewed by the Canadian House of Commons.

You must be a citizen or resident of Canada to sign.

Petition closes on February 24th, 2024.

[slopaganda]

update: the petition closes on february 19. dont forget to check your email to confirm after signing!

as a reminder, a previous petition calling for a ceasefire was followed by canada changing its vote at the UN. these signatures are not going unseen.

[staticnoisesss]

today marks day 111 of the genocide in gaza.

and i need you all to keep in mind just how dire the situation in gaza is right now. and to keep talking about it. now is not the time to turn away.

today i want to talk about khalil again. yesterday, khalil posted about how his aunt passed away and they went to the graveyard to bury her, only to find thousands of tents in the cemetery. the people living as refugees in rafah have been so jam packed that they’ve started sheltering at the cemetery.

in a heartbreaking sentence, khalil says “they are living in the cemetery, waiting for their time to be buried”. can you imagine the situation one has to be in to say something like that?

not only do the gazans not have a safe place to live, they are also starving and suffering from diseases and lack of medication. in fact, that’s the cause of khalil’s aunt’s death—bad food and no medicine.

the people of gaza barely have food to eat. the children have to clean dirt and insects off animal feed before milling it to make food. medicine isn’t coming into the gaza strip. there are pharmacies all around but none can help because they do not have the means to. why?

because israel consistently denies shipments of vital aid. in fact, according to the UN, israel recently added insulin pens for children to the list of prohibited items that are not allowed into gaza. this list also includes other medicines for chronic illnesses are also not allowed [here is the full press conference for anyone who’s interested].

this claim is also backed by the report journalist motaz azaiza was making as he was evacuating gaza of a plethora of aid trucks waiting at the border to enter gaza. and for the little bit of aid that is available to gazans? yesterday the israeli military opened fire at starving citizens who were queueing to get aid in northern gaza.

there are too many heartbreaking stories coming out of gaza; there is at least one per person, in a population of 2.2M people. i urge you to not turn away from hearing their stories and facing the reality of the crimes being committed against them by israeli occupation forces.

whatever anyone else might say, whatever the verdict of tomorrow’s hearing may be… i want you to remember that what’s happening in gaza is nothing short of a genocide—a collective total of 33,360 deaths (incl people missing under rubble), and 64,150 injured. don’t let them just be numbers. these are people.

people who are not just being killed in cold blood, but are also being starved. they are being tortured physically and psychologically. they are being subjected to illnesses with no treatment given. they are being subjected to eating things like grass, immature food, expired food. read the euro med monitor report for the full picture of the destruction happening in gaza at the hands of the israeli occupation forces.

this is a genocide. this is one of, if not the deadliest of war crimes we’ve seen in the 21st century.

i am so heartbroken i barely have the energy to type today. please call for an end to all of this, for a permanent ceasefire. and subsequently an end to the israeli occupation.

we cannot leave the palestinians to fend for themselves and continue being oppressed directly or indirectly by their oppressors and colonisers. this occupation must end. palestine must be freed in its entirety.

من المية للمية

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

please especially send donations to help supply aid and food to gazans. especially to the organisations working within gaza. it’s not like there isn’t any food at all. gaza is not a barren land. the food is just inaccessible and very expensive and unaffordable for most gazans (if you follow journalist muhammad smiry, you’ll see he posts a lot about the atrocious prices of food in gaza). so your donations help people purchase food in bulk within gaza and supply to the civilians.

[ibtisams-deactivated20240709]

More than 60% of the global population that are classified as the Phase 5 famine/catastrophe level of food insecurity and starvation are in the Gaza Strip right now, and that percentage is projected to increase to 95% by Februrary

[ibtisams-deactivated20240709]

Some organisations that get food and water into Gaza to consider donating to:

Anera

PCRF

Taawon/Bank of Palestine

World Food Programme

[slagginbitch]

Simple things you can do right now to support Gaza if you can't strike by staying home from work/school

queue posts about Palestine to regularly post throughout the week to keep them visible. Check tags like: #strike for gaza, #free gaza, #ceasefire now. I'm going to share posts from Bisan and other Palestinians on instagram.

don't spend money on nonessentials. if you didn't have time to prepare for the strike and still need to get groceries/medicine/etc, get it now to prepare for not spending the rest of the week! striking for even part of the week is better than not participating at all.

read bit.ly/StopGazaGenocide, this is a document put together by the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR) with lots of good information and graphics and link to art you can freely use to spread awareness. There is also a link to email your representatives to urge them to stop supporting the occupation and the email is pre-generated! it took me one minute to send emails!

email your representatives that you are striking for Palestine!

keep talking about Palestine. keep reading about Palestine. keep caring about Palestine. If you make even one person pay attention, you've done good work! keep going!

Do what you can! Doing ANYTHING is better than doing nothing.

[sixty-silver-wishes]

Once again recommending donations to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund. Not only is it a credible organization, you can donate any amount, so even if you don’t have much money, you can still contribute what you can towards humanitarian aid in Gaza. It takes donations via credit, PayPal, and mailed checks.

[i-am-aprl]

How Gazans Are Looking After Their Mental Health

How do people deal with their mental health when facing bombs, hunger, and other devastating events in Gaza? Bisan asks several people, including children, how they cope with these challenges while taking care of their mental well-being.