Recently, Palestinians living in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza have been feeling increasingly stifled in expressing their opinion on the civil crisis in the Gaza Strip. The current government ruling over the Palestinian territories has made it clear that any form of sympathy or support of Gaza’s civilians will be met with swift reprisal.
The ongoing clashes between Hamas and Israel have been causing more tension than ever in the Palestinian territories. In the face of an Israeli blockade and rocket fire, the civilian population of Gaza has been suffering greatly from these aggressions. However, any attempt at expressing sympathy for these citizens has been quickly shut down by the Palestinian authorities.
The fear of reprisal is so great that some people are afraid of even making eye contact with those who are suffering. Any attempt at expressing empathy for these victims has been met with threats of prison time and official reprimands. In certain instances, people have been arrested simply for voicing their opinion or conveying support for the civilians affected by the current conflict.
The reaction to any expression of sympathy for Gaza’s citizens has been extreme, as people are scared to even utter a single word that may be regarded as supportive by the authorities. It has gotten so severe that many Palestinians have resorted to taking desperate measures in order to ensure their safety.
The oppressive nature of the current government ruling over these territories has created an atmosphere of fear and caution amongst its citizens. This lack of freedom of speech has been heavily criticized by international organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
This situation is proof of the dire state of the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories and is yet another painful reminder of the extent of oppression that these people are subjected to. In such a climate of fear and intimidation, it is increasingly difficult for citizens to freely express themselves without worry of reprisal.
In times like these, it is incumbent on the international community to recognize and take action to help alleviate these pressing issues. The Palestinian people should not have to live in fear or under oppressive regimes. The right to freedom of speech and expression is a fundamental human right that should not be taken away, even in times of great strife.