Important films for a free Palestine
I couldn’t disagree more with JM Sorrell’s January column “Zionophobia zealots.”
Anti-Zionism and antisemitism are too often conflated. Jewish Voices for Peace defines political Zionism as “a settler-colonial movement, establishing an apartheid state where Jews have more rights than others. Our own history teaches us how dangerous this can be.” The framing of genocide as war is disingenuous, and portraying opposition to genocide as antisemitic is deeply harmful.
Jewish people everywhere deserve to feel safe. Israel’s military occupation of Palestine does not create safety. Instead, it acts as collective punishment against Palestinians. As of Jan. 30, an Israeli army official affirmed the Gaza Health Ministry’s estimated death toll of over 70,000 Palestinians, with thousands more missing, buried under rubble. Over 520 Palestinians have been killed since the “ceasefire” on Oct. 10, 2025. Unincluded in these death tolls are those who have died due to famine and freezing temperatures. Since 2024, Israel has failed to comply with legally binding orders from the International Court of Justice. In 2025, the United Nations declared that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
I urge readers to engage with the Palestinian cause. Readily available are two important films:
“The Voice of Hind Rajab.” In 2024, Israeli troops opened fire at a car and killed an entire family, leaving 5-year-old Hind Rajab seriously wounded. By the time the ambulance she called arrived, the Israeli troops fired on the emergency vehicle, killing two paramedics. Shortly after, Hind died, too. This is her story.
A second film, “The Encampments,” offers an intimate look into the American student movement for a free Palestine. The film documents student encampments which called for university divestment, igniting international uproar and inciting subsequent police violence.
Join the fight for an arms embargo today. Urge your senators and representatives to support the Block The Bombs for Israel Act. Participate in the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) Movement to strategically apply financial pressure on companies, institutions, and governments to end Israel’s genocide and settler-colonial regime. One such company is L3 Harris, a weapons manufacturer that operates a plant in Northampton. To join your neighbors in ending the manufacturing of deadly weapons in your backyard, reach out to demilitarizewesternmass@gmail.com or find @demilitarizewesternmass and @stopl3harrisnoho on Instagram.
Hannah Clark
South Hadley