Johannesburg – Given the ethnic cleansing occurring in Gaza and the ongoing oppression and occupation of Palestinians in their land, a global sentiment of powerlessness, frustration, and anger has enveloped many as they receive distressing updates about the Israeli regime’s cruelty and brutality.
This feeling of helplessness often leads them to question the effectiveness of their online presence, advocacy, and solidarity efforts in supporting the Palestinians, especially considering Israel’s continued targeting of innocent civilians, such as the recent tragic incident in a Gaza refugee camp, which resulted in approximately 400 casualties.
Despite their feelings of powerlessness, it is essential to understand that even small actions can be significantly impactful. This is evident in the attempts by Israel and its allies to reduce pro-Palestinian social media activity by censoring and removing specific channels and accounts, underlining the effectiveness of global support for the Palestinian cause.
However, South Africans remain determined to contribute more to it. Many have participated in marches, ongoing solidarity fundraisers, and awareness campaigns.
One notable effort in this regard is the #IStandForFreedom campaign, initiated by Riyaadh Satar, who was deeply affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With the support of his family and friends, he successfully put this campaign into action.
“My heart was aching and sinking. Then, I decided [I was] not doing enough. We as a nation need to do more.”
What is the #IStandForFreedom Campaign?
Sameerah Satar, who is Riyaadh’s cousin, explained their goal was to establish an online campaign which not only promoted inclusivity but also instilled hope and raised awareness. Crucially, they aimed to develop a campaign which could not be subjected to censorship, blocking or shadow banning.
“People did some really amazing things online, and we truly appreciate it … [However], keep posting so that the momentum remains.”
While the primary purpose was to stress the plight of Palestinians and the injustices they face, Riyaadh emphasised that this campaign could have a broad application and be utilised to expose atrocities occurring globally.
“Raising awareness for those issues is also something we’ve discussed and hope to take forward.”
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The Campaigns Objective
The campaign consists of two components. Those who wish to take part can contribute a donation to Gift of the Givers to support Palestinians in Gaza.
Additionally, they can share on their social media platforms anything symbolising Palestine and its people, accompanied by the hashtag #IStandForFreedom, while tagging influential government agencies, officials, and individuals.
The primary aim of the campaign is to maintain the relevance of the Palestinian cause both in the real world and the digital sphere while also fostering a platform for dialogue and engagement. In this regard, Riyaadh believes they have successfully attained this objective.
“We achieved our objective. Even if it made a difference to one person [and made them] shed light on the current situation and plight of Palestinians, that’s more than there was yesterday.”
Nonetheless, Riyaadh and Sameerah encourage individuals to persist in their efforts by consistently sharing and speaking out on social media, demonstrating their unwavering solidarity, and contributing to humanitarian organisations operating in occupied Palestine.
