How social media ignites support for the Palestinian struggle
In the midst of the Middle East, the Palestinian population persists in showcasing remarkable resilience amid ongoing challenges. Recent months have seen a surge in global support for the Palestinian resistance, as their struggle for justice and freedom resonates with people across the world.
The longstanding conflict between Palestine and the apartheid regime has garnered renewed attention, with social media, grassroots movements, and international voices coming together to amplify the call for a just resolution.
For decades, Palestinians have faced challenges ranging from displacement and occupation to restrictions on basic human rights. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the loss of lives, the destruction of homes, and a continuous struggle for self-determination.
The recent escalation of tensions, particularly in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, has reignited global interest in the Palestinian cause.
One notable aspect of the recent surge in global support is the role of social media in disseminating information and galvanising solidarity.
Platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok have become powerful tools for activists and ordinary individuals alike to share real-time updates, personal stories, and calls for justice. The hashtag #FreePalestine trended globally, demonstrating the ability of social media to unite people across borders in support of a common cause.
Cities around the world have witnessed large-scale protests and demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
From London to New York, Sydney to Johannesburg, diverse communities have taken to the streets, demanding an end to the violence and calling for a just and lasting solution to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
These protests underscore the global nature of the struggle, transcending geographic boundaries to build a united front for justice.
The Sultanate itself has been actively advocating for the cause, hosting a Steps for Solidarity: A Fundraising Walk for the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund on November 4 – a first of its kind in Brunei – that saw over 8,000 participants, by various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesses that aimed to bring the community together in showing solidarity, promote peace, foster awareness and engage in positive fund raising activities.
Meanwhile, on a much smaller scale, several other private individuals in the country have also carried out their own efforts to amplify the cause, such as Spazy – a known graffiti artist in the local graffiti scene.
“The concept sparked my interest on November 5 when NovemberInk invited artists to create daily sketches.
“The prompt for that day was ‘OBEY,’ and given my involvement in the graffiti scene, the distinctive artwork associated with OBEY, created by the artist Shepard Fairey, has consistently been a major source of inspiration,” Spazy elaborated.
Research was initiated with the hope of creating a parody of his work, which was successfully accomplished.
Drawing inspiration from Fairey’s iconic artwork titled Make Art Not War, Spazy’s initial intention was simply to post it on his Instagram. However, after witnessing the turmoil unfolding over the past month, a desire emerged within him to do something for the people of Palestine – “something more for the soul and not for profit” as he described it.
“That marked the point when I earnestly dedicated myself to developing and fully embracing the artwork.”
Expanding on the design of the artwork, Spazy detailed the girl he had sketched, explaining that it was based on a photo of three children he had seen on social media, covered in dirt after one of the attacks by the apartheid regime.
“Of course the girl in the original photo did not have a hijab on, but I modified it to fit into the theme I was going for.”
The inscription on the artwork, Make Palestine Free Again, drew inspiration from the resilience of Palestine’s resistance, where they couldn’t display their nation’s flag. Instead, they used watermelons to symbolise its colours, and the patterns encircling the girl are derived from Palestinian cultural motifs.
“I added the iconic kufiyah infused with the Brunei map to show the Sultanate’s solidarity with the State of Palestine, while the birds on the bottom of the kufiyah symbolise freedom. Something we all pray for the State of Palestine someday soon.”
“Alhamdulillah, after the release of the artwork on my social media, the attention and support I’ve garnered for it have been more than expected.
“Initially, it was a modest contribution from me, both as an artist and a fellow Muslim, aimed at supporting our brothers and sisters in Palestine.”
Despite the frustration of feeling powerless, Spazy made the decision to offer this small gesture and to earnestly pray for them each day. He successfully gathered a total of BND250 from the sales of the artwork and his own personal funds, which he subsequently transferred 100 per cent of the proceeds to WeCare Brunei.
“I hold the belief that any expression of talent or activity aimed at raising awareness is important.
“As long as individuals have genuine intentions and their hearts are in the right place, the focus doesn’t necessarily have to solely be on the plight of Palestinians. Sustained awareness on crucial issues holds significance.” – Izah Azahari
