Firstly, apologies if you’ve received a version of this email previously. There’s a few gremlins in our new email newsletter system… long story short, don’t use MailPoet for your email distribution. In the interim, we’re having to do everything manually, which is not pretty, but we figure the content is what matters, particularly at the moment. We’re prioritising readers who’ve been generous financial contributors, hence, this email to you. On the upside, this is my direct email address, so if you have any problems, queries etc, just hit reply.
Secondly, no doubt you’ve been watching the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza with a growing sense of horror and grief. Israel has perpetrated a lot of atrocities in its brief 75-year history, but we’ve never seen anything quite on this scale. As I write, the death toll in Gaza is rapidly approaching at least 20,000, and more than 40 per cent of those killed are children. It’s officially one of the most indiscriminate slaughters of children in modern history.
According to the United Nations, “almost 1.9 million people in Gaza, or nearly 85 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced, including people who have been displaced multiple times”. Of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, only 11 remain part or fully operational. Sitting on the other side of the world, it’s hard not to feel helpless and hopeless. But there are ways you can contribute, and one of the most important is to get informed.
New Matilda has launched a new video series called #FreePalestine. Its aim is to try and guide readers to in-depth and accurate information that puts this horrific event in some sort of context. We’re also trying to elevate voices in opposition to the slaughter, although we hope in the course of our ongoing reporting to also directly challenge those among us who might support Israel’s actions.
You can watch our first video here on the NM website, or here on Youtube. It’s a lengthy interview with Dr Peter Slezak, one of Australia’s most prominent Jewish pro-Palestinian activists. Dr Slezak doesn’t mince words in his summation of Israel’s conduct both historically and today.
This week, we’ll also release the second video in the series, a three-hour discussion with Nasser Mashni, the president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN). Later in the week, you’ll also hear from Richard Falk, former ‘Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967’, along with more Australian-Palestinian voices.
Basically, this is an ongoing project for New Matilda, and I hope you can find a way to support it. That might be just a ‘like’ or ‘share’ on the dumpster fire that is social media these days, but as always, everything we do is freely available to readers. So you can subscribe to support our work for as little as $6 a month here or just make a one-off contribution via Paypal here. Any support big or small (or in spirit only) is deeply appreciate
Speaking of spirits… Merry Christmas or Season’s Greetings. Whichever or whatever floats your boat.
Chris Graham
Publisher/editor
Ps. Apologies again for the very non-descript email. We’re working hard to try and get the automated system back up and running.
The post New Matilda Editorial December 19, 2023 appeared first on New Matilda.
This post was originally published on New Matilda.