“There is no Free Homeland, Without Women’s Freedom”

On Thursday September 26 thousands of women and activists across Historic Palestine and the diaspora took to the streets to reject gender based violence and proclaim the centrality of women’s liberation to the social, economic and political fight for broader Palestinian liberation.

The call for the mobilization was issued by Tal3at, (طالعات in Arabic), translated as “Going out into the streets”. It is a collective of Palestinian women across Historic Palestine who were moved to action following the brutal femicide of 21-year-old Israa Gharib who was murdered by members of her family in late August.

Mobilizations were held in Palestinian cities and towns including Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, Ramallah, Jish, Jerusalem, Haifa, Taybeh, Tiba, Jaffa, Nazareth, Arraba, and internationally in Beirut, Lebanon and Berlin, Germany.

The rally in Jerusalem was met with police repression, but it did not deter the spirit of the protesters who defiantly marched on.

Following the successful mobilization, the Tal3at issued a statement applauding the efforts taken by women and communities in the cities and towns that mobilized and recognizing the moment as a crucial step in fighting for freedom wherein both the homeland, Palestine, and women are truly free.

“We went out today to be together and to fight and support each other in the face of erasing and marginalizing the stories of violence that we experience on a daily basis…We have come to the streets under the slogan ‘There is no free homeland, without free women,’ to redefine the concept of emancipation in our homeland, and to emphasize that there is no horizon for national liberation without justice, dignity and freedom for each of us. This day was a space for us, Palestinian women, in defiance of the fragmentation and colonial geographic divisions, to declare that we refuse to be a deferred issue, and that our dignity and freedom should be a priority in the essence of Palestinian liberation discourse and political action.

This day was a reflection of the reality of violence that we face with our lives and our bodies every day. In the demonstrations, we faced multiple male and colonial repression; we turned to medical institutions involved in failing to protect battered women, and we launched a cry against “enlightened” violence and harassment in the political and social space. We clashed with the Israeli occupation police. In doing so, we will continue to engage with these forces of repression, and we will work tirelessly to ensure safe spaces capable of empowering women and creating potential to destabilize deep-rooted violence and corruption.”

Below are photos and videos of some of the mobilizations:

Ramallah

Hundreds marched in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Photo: Sharif Mosa

Photo: Sharif Mosa

Rafah

Dozens rallied in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza strip.

Mobilization in Rafah, Gaza

Mobilization in Rafah, Gaza

Mobilization in Rafah, Gaza

Mobilization in Rafah, Gaza

Haifa

Arraba

Dozens mobilized in Arraba

Dozens mobilized in Arraba

Jish

In Jish, protesters held up photos of the victims of femicides.

In Jish women displayed shoes as a symbol to represent the women who have been murdered. “The shoes stay and the woman is killed”

Protesters in the town of Jish.

Nazareth

Nazareth

Nazareth

Jerusalem

Israeli police repressed the protest in Jerusalem but the women marched on.

Beirut

Hundreds of Palestinian women and activists came together in Beirut, Lebanon.

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut, Lebanon

Berlin

Dozens mobilized in Berlin, Germany.

Berlin, Germany