More than expertise, the Palestinians need the world’s solidarity, says Dr Mads Gilbert.
One of the most heartwarming scenes in the aftermath of disaster is the compassionate delivery of aid to devastated fellow humans. Yet, sometimes “the name and pretence of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices,” observed 17th century French author Francois de La Rochefoucauld.
Even the most noble endeavours might be tainted by a hint of an ulterior motive. Or, even the otherwise admirable efforts of volunteers in the humanitarian relief industry might be driven by something distasteful: racism. Dr Mads Gilbert, currently on tour in South Africa to highlight the plight of the Palestinians, tackled the uncomfortable subject in an emotional interview with Kaya FM’s Phemelo Motene.
In what was one of a series of interviews with media houses in the country, the Norwegian physician, humanitarian and volunteer cut straight to the point: “I hate the pictures of White relief coming to earthquakes or flooding or whatever, pretending that you are not able to manage yourself”.
SMread: Joburgers invited to cycle in solidarity with Palestine
Solidarity, not expertise
At the core of the Western relief industry, he suggested, was something like a saviour complex. A belief that local people in less economically developed countries (LEDCs) were dependent upon the graceful rescue of the West.
“The perception, in the global north, of helplessness in the global south, is still paramount and that’s the foundation for the relief industry, which is maintaining the colonial grip.”
But that kind of thinking goes directly against what experience on the ground has taught him. The truth is that they need solidarity.
“I’ve been around pretty much and I see that the heroes – the smart, innovative people – are the local people. It’s just like in Norway, the prime minister doesn’t know sh*t about growing potatoes, [but] if you go to the local farmer, he knows how to grow potatoes,” he said.
“We’re so blinded by our own selfishness,” he lamented, that the genius at a grassroots level is hardly recognised.
“If you go to the global south, you will find endless examples of improvisation, innovation, managing, feeding, preserving society and developing societies that we never understood.”
Everytime he goes back home to Norway, he says, “I think I have washed out most of my orientalist, colonial racism as a White man”. Until he lands back in one of the LEDCs – in this case, the besieged Gaza Strip that is now being described as an extermination camp.
“Gaza, in that context, comes in again as a story of pity and of helplessness, even among people who sympathise. It’s like, ‘Oh, we have to get Doctor Mads in’. No! You don’t have to get Dr Mads in,” he bemoans.
SMread: Dr Mads Gilbert challenges Israel’s ‘self-defence’ narrative
The Gazans do not need his expertise, he said. “What they need is my shoulder, because everyone needs a shoulder of solidarity to stand by. What they need is my voice and my observation, my talking out”.
At this point, host Phemelo Motene interjects with an interesting observation. “We need your race too, actually,” she says. A frank confrontation with deep-seated racism is unearthed. “It speaks louder than our voices.”
“The world stops to listen to you because you are White, blue-eyed and privileged and European, unfortunately. Your truth is more true than mine.”
“I hate it,” agrees Dr Gilbert. “But I understand for tactical reasons I have to utilise it. It’s not because I need to do the medical work; it is because they need witnesses and they need voices”.
Before the host moves on to the next question, the humble humanitarian concludes the topic of underlying racism in the relief industry with a refrain he hears from his colleagues in Gaza.
“They say to me, ‘When you come in, we know that we are not alone, because we feel that the world has forgotten us and that we are slaughtered with everyone just standing by and watching’. They say that everytime and they say that louder than ever now.”
