Statement: Official Statement on the War Crimes committed against the people of Palestine - APSS (MSU-Marawi City)
Source: Mindanao State University Political Science Students stand for Palestine
The Association of Political Science Students of Mindanao State University-Main Campus, founded on the principles of justice, freedom, and commitment to the non-negotiability of the right to life, vehemently condemns the continued war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the state of Israel towards the Palestinian people. The relentless bombings in the Gaza Strip, the attacks on innocent civilian populations, and the killings in the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem are a testament to the inhumane and despicable acts of injustice that the state of Israel is morally culpable. The 75 years of history of the crisis is the history of the displacement, disenfranchisement, and oppression of the Palestinians since the Nakba or the Palestinian Catastrophe in 1948 until the present-day occupation constituting the ramifications of today’s catastrophe.
While “wars have limits” is the banner of International Humanitarian Law, the deliberate blockade in Gaza by Israel that cut the area from access to humanitarian aid, the use of excessive force which is clearly disproportionality, and the recent air strikes that targeted hospitals and place of worship that took the lives of many civilians are clear violations and disrespect to the covenant of international law that states have to uphold in all times. Hence, we condemn the acts of the state of Israel as they constitute war crimes.
We are equally frustrated with the appalling inaction and apathy of the United Nations, if not the international community, towards the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The failure of the UN Security Council to pass the many resolutions calling for a ceasefire and immediate humanitarian intervention reflects the selfish geopolitical interests of the hegemonic states undermining the urgency of the humanitarian crisis. We would also express our grave disapproval of the unified support of the Western states to Israel justifying that Israel has the right to defend itself. We cannot recall an occupier with a powerful military capacity who has long committed attacks in East Jerusalem, West Bank, Ramallah, and Gaza Strip to suddenly call for and invoke the right to self-defense when it has been aggressive. The criminal responsibility of Israel is shared by U.S.A. and western allies.
While we don’t support the proliferation of violence, we understand the frustration of the Palestinian people and we believe that efforts to liberate themselves from their oppressors, from the apartheid Israel, is a justified cause. The Palestinians who have long suffered from Israel have no place to go and cannot seek refuge given that Israel blocked them. Palestinians now are in a destitute situation that they either die from the bombings or starvation. The world’s population plays a pivotal role in reshaping this status quo both in the digital and physical world. We call for a continuous campaign to pressure and demand from governments and international bodies for immediate action for a ceasefire, for humanitarian intervention, and to hold Israel accountable to its criminal responsibilities. We call for the International Courts to take the Israel-Gaza incident with urgent matter to investigate.
The APSS believes that the truth can only be freed when we speak and fight for it. With this, we also condemn the mainstream (western) media for romanticizing stories of Israel, changing narratives of the oppressed as radicalism, ignoring the situation of the Palestinians, and altering the truth in favor of the aggressor. Our very own ambassador to the UK posted and deleted on X an abhorrent suggestion of killing innocent children to prevent terrorist radicalization. We condemn this act of Ambassador Locsin as it was simply Islamophobic, unbecoming of a human more than a Filipino, and regrettably, does not represent the values of the Filipino people. Such a narrative is dangerous and cannot be tolerated for whatever excuse given that it came from a powerholder in society.
For over 75 years, systemic answers to this situation have been failing or no answer at all. But now, people will speak for the rightful truth and against the cause that kills the people of Palestine. We call for the international community and the domestic/national and local governments to find effective measures and mechanisms to stop the war and address the crisis.
The struggle of the Palestinians is not far from the struggle of Moros for autonomy, the Palestinians is the rightful owner of their land which was taken from them, they have the right to self-determination as people, and above all, they have the right to live as humans with dignity. With this statement, we hope and encourage individuals to demand justice for the Palestinians and accountability from Israel, for the unjust world systems, and we will never cease talking about Palestine. We will be the alarm clock of those who sleep during injustice. The APSS stands high and firm, in solidarity, with the Palestinian people. We will march and shout, from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!
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