Long Live the Palestinian Resistance!
The International Women’s Alliance offers its warmest international solidarity and revolutionary celebrations for the people of Palestine following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire deal announced earlier this week. After over a year of brutal genocidal offensive against the Palestinian people following October 7’s Al-Aqsa Flood, the people of Palestine have demonstrated to the world the strength of their resistance against their oppressors.
The genocidal, US-backed Zionist State has ruthlessly unleashed all-out attacks against the Palestinian people in Gaza. 46,000 Palestinians have been confirmed as martyred in the aerial bombardments against Gaza, accounting for 2% of the total population of the strip before the attacks started. It is estimated that almost 60% of those killed were women, children, and the elderly. This number also does not account for the thousands of women who have given birth during the genocide who had no access to anesthesia or sanitation – and also experienced issues of malnutrition during pregnancy and after childbirth due to the blockade of necessary aid and intentional targeting of hospital facilities. As we celebrate this victory for the Palestinian Resistance we cannot forget to lay blame on the doorstep of the zionist entity and the United States who orchestrated this unimaginable brutality.
IWA calls on our members to continue exposing the lies and hypocrisy that have been touted by news outlets all over the US, Europe, and the world. Following October 7th, the media, and politicians, reported false narratives about Hamas using rape as a tactic of their attacks against Israeli Hostages despite lack of evidence and continued investigation proving these allegations to be false. The Zionist Army has, however, been guilty repeatedly of using rape, sexual violence, and even trained attack dogs against the people of Gaza. Even before the most recent genocide in Gaza was carried out – the Zionist army has been known to target women intentionally to weaken civil society – including their “one shot, two kills” policy which teaches IOF soldiers to target pregnant women.
While initial reporting celebrated the role that Trump, Netanyahu, and other state actors played in the ceasefire deal – we cannot give into the narrative that this deal was an act of goodwill of benevolence. Instead – the ongoing global solidarity with Palestine, the diplomatic isolation of the Zionists, and the military victories of the Palestinian resistance have led to this historic moment. The resistance in Gaza has been clear about their demands since October 7th – release of Palestinian political prisoners in exchange for those detained on October 7th.
IWA salutes the Palestinian Political Prisoners who were released in the exchange – holding high the prestige of those who have steadfastly resisted in Administrative detention. On January 19 – an initial release of 80 Palestinian Political prisoners occured – including 69 women. Those released included women such as Hadeel Shatara – a Palestinian who has long advocated and organized political prisoners and their families, and Khaleda Jarrar who was held in solitarity confinement for nearly 6 months during her last detention. Jarrar is a prominent Palestinian legislator and senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine whose political activity has made her a repeated target for imprisonment by the Zionist army. During an earlier conviction in administrative detention, Jarrar played a leading role in supporting the education of other girls, organizing classes on human rights and in review for mandatory high school examinations when the prison authority denied the girls a teacher. We encourage all members to learn more about the fierce Women Political Prisoners of Palestine by following @dismantle_damon on Instagram.
Names of all the Women Political Prisoners released from Administrative Detention
While there is much to celebrate and the spirits of those who have been resisting for nearly a century are being lifted – we also have to ensure that we do not give into the illusion that a ceasefire agreement is the ultimate victory of the Palestinian people. We know the struggle for a truly free Palestine wages on, and we cannot bear the illusion that the Zionist state will honor its agreement (just as it has violated agreements with Lebanon, Egypt and other countries in the past). IWA calls on our members to continue rallying, educating and organizing in solidarity with the Palestinian liberation movement and continuing to demand the US, Israel, NATO, and all other occupying and imperialist forces stop the genocide and siege on Gaza.
Furthermore, we, the women of the world, must stand in steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian fighters who continue to dedicate their lives to ensuring a free Palestine, the right of return and an end to Zionist occupation! As we kick off this new year of 2025, let us continue to commit to steadfast international solidarity and struggle against imperialism and all reaction!