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Hi gentle reader, Sam here, writing to you from Gothenburg, Sweden.
It’s now thirteen months since the horrific events of October 7th launched this catastrophic, devastating new wave of genocide, ecocide, and ethnic cleansing committed by the Israeli government with support from their allies on the people of Palestine. And the end, or even a partial ceasefire, still looks no where near certain, as Israel expands war and terror onto the people of Lebanon and beyond.
Over the past few years I have been involved in digital activism around animal rights, environmental and social justice, and more recently queer and crip rights. And through this work I have witnessed a vast amount of abuse and injustice online, but the images, videos, and accounts that I have witnessed on my screen every single day coming from Gaza and other places in Palestine have reached a whole new level of horror and evil.
However, what’s been equally gut wrenching is the rhetoric and responses from government officials in countries that I’ve lived and grown up in; the UK, US, and Sweden. Doubling down on weapon sales to Isreal along with the green light to “defend themselves” by any genocidal means. Even amidst the International Court of Justice ruling six months ago that Isreal’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is unlawful and violates the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid.
“The Court has finally reaffirmed a principle that seemed unclear, even to the United Nations: Freedom from foreign military occupation, racial segregation and apartheid is absolutely non-negotiable.” (UNHR, 30 July 2024)
With the nearing election results in the US lingering in the balance this week, between a candidate that’s been in power and supported these atrocities consistently through enormous arms deals, and another who would most likely support Isreal’s efforts even further to a point of absolute destruction and annihilation of Palestinian life, as well as severely oppress many other vulnerable groups of people at home in the US and abroad. The future for Palestinians and “our” (Western/Global North) collective humanity is very much in the balance.
“The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.” – Maya Angelou
Throughout this past year there has been a beacon of hope, thanks to the millions of protesters across the globe who continue to draw attention to what’s happening in Palestine as well as highlight global systems of domination that are enabling other ongoing genocides across the world; even despite constant and excessive force to shut them down, as we’ve seen incessantly with student protests and encampments at universities across the US and Europe.
Now more than ever, it’s there in plain sight for us to see how the foundations of the Western Nations are built on the ruins and spoils of colonisation, and only through neo-colonisation and force is that power maintained and expanded.
One of the last remaining student encampments globally, and last standing within Europe actually lies here in my now hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. Which they have aptly named “Gazaplatsen” (re-naming from “Vasaplatsen”) and have been camped there for over 170 days; still organising protests with other pro-Palestinian communities, being a hub for information about what is happening in Palestine daily, and putting pressure on Gothenburg University (as well as other universities) and the Swedish Government to cut all ties and support to Isreal.
Throughout my next few blog posts I will dive more into the pro-Palestine movement here in Gothenburg, as well as Sweden on the whole.
Until then, thank you for reading.
References:
@gustudentsforpalestine: https://www.instagram.com/p/DA-XNbjO6zp/?hl=en
United Nations Human Rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/07/experts-hail-icj-declaration-illegality-israels-presence-occupied
International Court of Justice: https://www.icj-cij.org/node/204176
4 responses to “Pro-Palestinian Activism in Sweden: The Last Remaining Encampment”
Hi Sam, I´m happy to hear that the pro-Palestine movement is strong and well in Gothenburg! In Helsinki (Finland) the university occupation was ended by the police in June: https://yle.fi/a/74-20093731 But weekly demonstrations around the country are still ongoing.
For me, it is important to see people participating, sharing information and attending demonstrations. Witnessing the horror in Gaza is so deeply sad that it is important to have places where to griev and to have other people around to whom to turn to in support: https://wpmu.mau.se/msm24group4/2024/10/21/protests-online-and-offline/
Another interesting aspect is whether a movement needs a leader to function. In Finland, the pro-Palestine movement does not have very clear leaders, at least not widely popular one.
I watched a videocast in Zeteo where Greta Thunberg and Motaz Azaiza talked about Gaza and activism. The setup itself is very interesting. Two famous activists of our time delved into the feelings and motives of activism. I wrote about it in my blog post:
https://wpmu.mau.se/msm24group4/2024/11/11/social-media-influencers-and-content-creators-as-inspiration-for-digital-protests/
Noora! Hi!
Hope you’re having a lovely start to the week over there in Helsinki & thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
I completely agree, and as Liam mentioned these demonstrations are so pivotal as they can lead to a “larger systemic change in cases where governments’ actions do not go far enough; I think of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and consumer and cultural boycotts of South Africa in the 1980s.”
The notion of leadership is an interesting one for sure too, from my understanding the pro-Palestinian movement here in Gothenburg also has no clear leaders and roles seem to shared and interchangeable depending on individual and changing situations. I also caught some of the video-cast between Greta Thunberg and Motaz Azaiza and found it very insightful!
It’s with great sadness however, that I need to tell you the Gazaplatsen student encampment here has also been shut down by the police. I have written a little about the situation in my recent blog post if you’d like to read more: https://wpmu.mau.se/msm24group3/2024/11/29/this-week-in-sweden-the-forced-removal-and-shutdown-of-the-last-pro-palestine-student-encampment-in-europe/
Gazaplatsen certainly still lives on in our hearts here in Gothenburg however.
Sending love,
Sam
P.s. Thank you so much for sharing your posts – I look forward to diving into them and commenting shortly!
Hi Sam, thanks for this interesting update on the Palestinian solidarity movement in Sweden. I hope that the students at Gothenburg continue in their efforts to put pressure on authorities to act in the interests of the Palestinian people.
In Ireland, the student movement at Trinity College Dublin, one of the biggest and most influential third level institutions in the country, had a major success earlier this year. After a sit-in that blocked access to a public tourist attraction (and major income source) at the university, TCD authorities agreed to the students’ demands to divest investments in Israeli companies that have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
When cynics scoff “what’s the point” at actions like the sit-ins, this is a tangible example of how organised acts of solidarity can lead to a degree of meaningful change in our communities. And international solidarity can lead to larger systemic change in cases where governments’ actions do not go far enough; I think of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and consumer and cultural boycotts of South Africa in the 1980s.
You can read more about the approach and wins of the Trinity students here: https://jacobin.com/2024/05/trinity-college-dublin-palestine-protest
thejournal.ie/trinity-encampment-over-6374085-May2024/
Looking forward to reading more of the updates on this blog.
PS: I also blogged about the ongoing horror in Gaza on our blog, with a focus on the role of international development actors: https://wpmu.mau.se/msm24group7/2024/10/18/the-international-development-community-must-critically-consider-its-post-war-role-in-gaza/
Liam! Hi!
Thank you so much for your insightful comment!
I say with a great sadness and sorrow, that “the last remaining pro-Palestinian encampment” here in Gothenburg actually came to end last week. I’ve written a short post about it here if you would like to know more: https://wpmu.mau.se/msm24group3/2024/11/29/this-week-in-sweden-the-forced-removal-and-shutdown-of-the-last-pro-palestine-student-encampment-in-europe/
What an incredible feat from the Trinity College Dublin students earlier this year though! That’s amazing – thank you for sharing! I absolutely agree my friend, organised acts of solidarity spreading across international borders can and do lead to systemic change in cases where governments actions do not go far enough, as we are seeing with the tides changing in regards to political actors across Europe now pledging their support of the Palestinian people and their collective liberation, while also naming and condemning the ongoing genocide inflicted by Israel, who’s officials now finally have arrest warrants against them by the ICC. Unfortunately of course, this means very little for the people of Palestine right now who are still facing the horror daily, if not hourly, and with Donald Trump’s imminent presidency looming the ongoing support and enabling of this genocide from Israel’s biggest ally looks inevitable, and even a partial ceasefire looks extremely unlikely.
Thank you for sharing your own post, I’d absolutely love to read. I’ll take a look and share my thoughts in the comment section shortly!
Thanks again Liam,
Sam