Covering Up the Stains of Silence

Weeks into the start of Israel's latest, and quite possibly, final, genocidal chapter in Gaza, award winning novelist Omar El Ekkad in October 2023, posted the following prediction on social media:

He expanded on this sentiment in an acclaimed February 2025 book titled One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.

I've been thinking about this, as liberal, centrist, and establishment individuals and institutions are (sort of) speaking up about Israel's campaign of forced starvation on the people of Gaza, doing so at the 11th hour and acting as though they were always outraged by the mass deaths of Palestinians.

Like applying a moral concealer to hide the blemishes of their hypocrisy, the stains of their silence.

Among them is the New York Times, which recently published Omar Bartov's op-ed, "I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It," which called out Israel's actions as clearly genocidal. But lest that piece give the impression that the "Gray Lady" is finally taking a stand against a modern-day mass atrocity after a year and a half of being an apologist for its perpetrator, Times columnist Ross Douthat on July 26 wrote a screed that began with the declaration, "Israel’s war in Gaza is not a genocide" but merely "unjust," and went on to repeat the nauseatingly common rejoinder to any accusations against Israel that Hamas' criminality is to blame.

Still, the evidence of Israel's dogged pursuit of Palestinian extermination and its self-admitted blood thirst against Gaza is piling up so high, it's now impossible to ignore. French President Emmanuel Macron just announced his nation would recognize Palestinian statehood. Macron also joined, Germany and the UK in calling on Israel to end the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza.

And more than two dozen countries, including European ones who have allied with Israel, signed on to a statement calling on Israel to end its assault on Gaza. But, as Al Jazeera pointed out, "Countries denounce Israel but keep trading with it."

Meanwhile, the sounds of American silence are all-but-deafening.

It's true, some Senate Democrats have called on Israel to allow aid convoys to enter Gaza, and lawmakers such as Rashida Tlaib and Bernie Sanders are extremely vocal, but most are failing to hold Israel accountable in any meaningful way.

Former Senator, top diplomat, and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, who last year accused anti-genocide campus protesters of ignorance as they demanded an end to Israel's pogroms, half-heartedly lamented the forced starvation of Gaza on X:

But, Clinton refused to mention Israel by name, let alone hold it responsible, as though an imaginary force was blocking the aid. It's a trick commonly employed by Israel-apologists: ignore its atrocities, or report on them without mentioning Israel, or mention Israel using the passive voice.

The New York Times, which also routinely engages in such linguistic trickery, did use the active voice for Israel, but only to give the state credit for allowing some aid through. A Times report about the forced famine had the headline, "Israel Says It Has Paused Some Military Activity in Gaza as Anger Grows Over Hunger." In the Times' view, Israel gets credit for everything--but harming Palestinians.

(If you want in-depth analysis of how mainstream media outlets have reported on Gaza, I highly recommend the work of watchdog group, Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting.)

As Omar El Ekkad predicted a year and a half ago, genocide observers will eventually find their voice, applying thick coats of concealer to disguise the stain of their complicity just as the final chapter of Palestinian extermination is unfolding. And they will claim credit for being righteous.

But people of conscience have been speaking out for justice for Palestinians long before it was embarrassing not to do so. Among them is labor organizer Chris Smalls who posted the following on social media in October 2023:

Smalls is one of 21 activists who last week boarded the Handala, a ship organized by the Gaza Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza, bearing baby formula, food, and other aid supplies, and determined to break the Israeli siege. Like its predecessor, the Madleen, Israeli forces attacked the Handala over the weekend and imprisoned those on board.

I interviewed Mr. Smalls late last week while he was on the Handala. Paid subscribers will be able to access the full video and transcript of the interview later this week (Please consider upgrading!).

For years the Gaza Freedom Flotilla has attempted to break Israel's siege of Gaza. Huwaida Arraf, who is a lead organizer of the flotilla, and who has been a frequent guest on Rising Up With Sonali, was also on board the Handala. What the Flotilla's participants are showing is that in the face of illegal war crimes and genocide, one doesn't wait for permission from the genocider to begin saving lives. One does what one must.

Indeed, nations like Jordan and the UAE, who are currently conducting aid air drops, are doing so in cooperation with Israel. This is their attempt to apply coats of genocide concealer. But they too are complicit.

Here's the thing: anyone can speak up at any time about Israel's genocide in Gaza. BUT, the sooner you do so, the lighter your moral stain and the less concealer you'll need.

On a final note, one of my favorite Instagram bakers offered this delectable recipe for a Ferrero Rocher cake and spoke up against the genocide. Try the cake – and find your voice.

P.S. My latest monthly column for Independent Media Institute just published. Check it out at the link below: