Thread by @DelapierceD

Just saw #GazaFightsForFreedom by @AbbyMartin and @MikePrysner of @EmpireFiles in Toronto last night

Screening hosted by @mexieYT
Panel included editor Taylor Gill

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Wonderful film. Important. Beautifully shot. Well made

Gazan journalists contributed footage and interviews - and did so on four hours of electricity per day

Please everyone see this movie

Trailer:

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Film opens with a family on a beach. I have seen many maps of Gaza before. Much of its border is coastline. I have seen very few images of Gaza beaches.

Just as I was reflecting on this, and the interesting choice to open with it, @AbbyMartin's narration explains:

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT "This is the farthest Gazans may go without special permission from the Israeli government. Even fishing boats may only travel so far before warboats are authorized to shoot to kill."

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT The rest of the film, as explained by @AbbyMartin & @MikePrysner, is dedicated to a) humanizing the most dehumanized people on the planet, and b) documenting the illegality of Israel's actions

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT It shows the effects of the military and economic sanctions against Gaza. Many construction materials are banned from entering, for instance, which is why Gaza cannot rebuild

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Gaza has the highest rates of unemployment at ~50%, especially youth unemployment at ~70%

An unemployed father collects rocks for ~$6-9 per day

(fact check my memory please)

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Designed to be an entryway to the topic, #GazaFightsForFreedom cites various international laws that support #Palestine or condemn #Israel.

This trailer references a law that affirms Palestine's right to defend itself with armed force

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT This is important because much of #Israel's defense of its violence is that they act in defense against #Palestine's violence

But, Palestinian resistance is almost entirely nonviolent. The film primarily focuses on the #GreatMarchOfReturn

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT #GreatMarchOfReturn: Every Friday, Gazans walk to the border, to return to the homes they were violently forced from.

It began as an idea by Palestinian poet, Ahmed Abu Artema, after he saw a bird fly across the border.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT "I realized I opposed the occupation because it violates the laws of nature... It forbids me to be a flying bird."

#Gaza #GreatMarchOfReturn
#GazaFightsForFreedom

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT After situating the occupation and the resisting March, the film examines Israel's violent response: Thousands wounded. Hundreds killed. (This is just in response to the #GreatMarchOfReturn)

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT #GazaFightsForFreedom looks at three categories of Israel's assassinations: Children, People with Disabilities, and Medical Personnel.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Children: @AbbyMartin reminds us that #Gaza is half children. #Israel's occupation is a war on children.

As of the film, Israel has shot 950 children in the #GreatMarchOfReturn. The youngest was 2.

This man explains why:
Kill the youth, Kill the future

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Film includes leaked footage of Israeli snipers joking about which child to shoot in a group, laughing at the group's running, celebrating at how fast he fell, and calling the group bastards.

#Gaza #Israel #Palestine
#GazaFightsForFreedom

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT #GazaFightsForFreedom looks at four* categories of Israel's assassinations: Children, People with Disabilities, the Press and Medical Personnel.

*I missed the Press in earlier tweet

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Many of the disabilities come from Israel's violence. Some were sniped in their wheelchairs or on their crutches.

Targeting the Press was a recent development, which surprised the journalists. Some wore clearly marked Press vests.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Targeting medics is also new. One medic told her mom, "My white coat protects me. We even walk with our hands up as we approach hurt people."

This is #RazanAlNajjar

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT After assassinating her, Israel made it look in the press as though #RazanAlNajjar admitted to being a human shield for Hamas terrorists, a common narrative Israel uses to excuse murdering civilians

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT Killing civilians is a war crime.
Killing children is a war crime.
Killing people with disabilities is a war crime.
Killing people in the press is a war crime.
Killing medical personnel is a war crime.

#GazaFightsForFreedom
#Israel #Palestine #Gaza

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT The film ends as it began, with a family at the beach. I remember, and love, @AbbyMartin's introductory words:

"Gaza is not defined by how it copes with oppression, but how it struggles for liberation."

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT The Q&A, moderated by @MexieYT from @VeganVanguard and YouTube, featured director @AbbyMartin, producer @MikePrysner, and editor @TaylorCGill

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@MexieYT to @MikePrysner: Why couch so much of this in UN/ International law?

MP: We are not fans of the UN, but in designing an entryway, we wanted to give a framework for someone new to understanding that Israel is committing horrible war crimes

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@MexieYT TO @AbbyMartin: You say this is a collaboration with Gazan journalists?

AM: They offered footage and interviews, and sending us the material with only four hours of electricity (wifi) per day.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Realizing I missed stats about Israel's poisoning the water in Palestine. Some predict it will be completely unlivable by sometime next year.

Israel has called Palestinian resistance a "self-genocide," by the way.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: Why is no one bringing this to the ICC?

@MikePrysner: Israel is protected by the US, the largest military in world history. The US gov offers $10M/day, as well as political protection.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: What is US getting?

@MikePrysner: Lobbying is a misconception. Middle East is most geo strategically important region to US Capitalism. US pays $10M/day for same reason it invaded Iraq: Hegemony. Through Israel, US attacks Lebanon, Syria, and says: Not us, Israel.

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@AbbyMartin: Canada: Talk about a vassal state for US Empire. US people are last to wake up, but our police are trained by Israeli military. Then they wantonly kill/execute #BlackLivesMatter activists.

Audience: "So does Canada!"

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: Isn't this coming back to bite us?

@AbbyMartin: Israel/US have lot on common. Gaza is used as a warehouse.
Israel still deports criminals to Gaza. They test weapons: Gas, exploding bullets, and brag at expos that they are "battle-tested."

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill #GazaFightsForFreedom demonstrates that Israel is using chemical weapons and exploding bullets (war crimes) on children, disabled, press, and medics (war crimes)

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: What can we do?

@AbbyMartin: Get angry. Link our struggles, and awareness spreads. Our tour has had no disruptions/protests. 5 years ago would be different. Propaganda not working anymore. We have videos, and they have cartoons. (shown in film)

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@AbbyMartin: 10s of 1000s of Palestinians every Friday. 83% Israelis support open fire. Gants is a war criminal.

We are not progressive/liberal if we support this. It is working. Israel is terrified of BDS, the only thing that will bring down apartheid, as with South Africa.

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@AbbyMartin: Ireland & others have passed pro-BDS resolutions. 26 States have passed anti-BDS. Use our Western privilege

Artists dropping Israel. Israel paid Lovato to propagandize. Renounced it after pressure

We need to resurrect Antiwar Movement. Starts with us, right here

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@MikePrysner: Gazans asked us to support, come into streets. Support has jumped since 2009. Delegates at DNC supporting Palestine. Floatilla, Bombing, particular killings have all helped illuminate the oppression. We need to be there with info.

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: What about an International Socialist Revolution?

@MikePrysner: I support that! On @AbbyMartin's point about linking struggles: This includes labor.
Oakland workers shut down a port in solidarity with Palestine. We need more of that.

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: Seems like a film for us. How to speak to opposition?

@AbbyMartin: I disagree. Every other film shows "both sides," generals' rationalizations. Working class is ready for this, oppressed by the same system. This humanizes the most dehumanized people on the planet.

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@MikePrysner: Not interested in appealing to those who do not care. Looking for those more open, but not informed. What do we have ready for people who want to learn about #Gaza? This is film, but also journalism, proof of crimes. We begin/end with beach to show humanity.

@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Audience: I am from Israel. They brainwashed me to hate. My parents moved us to Canada. My family now calls me antisemitic, traitor. How do I approach?

Another audience member, possibly Palestinian: Applause for her, please!

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill .@AbbyMartin: Really tough. American Exceptionalism is deep sickness. Similar to Israel superiority. Humanization is so important. Some are not listening or reachable. So many are, and ready. We need to be there, with information like this, human to human

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@AbbyMartin @MikePrysner @EmpireFiles @mexieYT @VeganVanguard @taylorcgill Closing: @AbbyMartin:

Trump's sanctions defunded @EmpireFiles. #GazaFightsForFreedom was entirely funded by donations. #Israel charges $50/second of footage, but we were dedicated to making this a good film. Please support this work as you are able.

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