Amid Israeli attacks on Iran, hundreds go on hunger strike in Gaza

More than 650 Israelis, Palestinians, and peace activists from around the world participated in the "Freedom Strike" – an initiative of the Combatants for Peace movement.

“A few days after the outbreak of war between Israel and Iran – in which dozens were killed, hundreds were injured, and the skies over Tehran and Tel Aviv were filled with missiles and drones – the Combatants for Peace movement, in cooperation with other peace organizations, organized a “Freedom Strike”: an all-day online protest event, with the participation of hundreds of Israelis, Palestinians, and peace activists from more than 25 countries, in an urgent call to stop the hunger in Gaza and end the war,” the movement said in a statement.

Against the backdrop of growing hunger in the Gaza Strip, where nearly two million people are struggling to survive, and the ongoing blockade in the West Bank, Combatants for Peace insisted on not turning a blind eye, even as media and public attention suddenly shifted to the new arena between Israel and Iran. More than 650 people registered for the event, some of whom fasted from their homes, and supported the call to raise a moral voice in times of bombardment, war, and fear of regional escalation.

During the day, more than 200 people participated in online dialogue sessions broadcast in three languages—Hebrew, Arabic, and English—to learn together about the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the history of fasting and hunger strikes as forms of protest and nonviolent resistance. Among the sessions were a juristic discussion on the prohibition of hamlets in Judaism, presented by Rabbi Yael Wergan; a “Testimonies from the Land” meeting featuring Palestinian family members from Gaza and Israeli activists from Sderot, a Gaza envelope area; a multilingual community discussion panel featuring dozens of participants from Israel, Palestine, South Africa, the United States, and other countries, who spoke openly about fears, anxieties, and loneliness, alongside hope, solidarity, and a deep commitment to action; and an international community meeting led by Friends of Combatants for Peace from the United States, with the participation of Rabbi Eli Tikva Sara, Tahiya Wekalo, and David Kataba.

“At this moment when another war is raging and civilians are once again paying the price, we have chosen to come together, to fast and to shout,” said Mia Byrne, Combatants for Peace’s director of activities. “Despite the bombardment, we refuse to look away from Gaza. This is exactly what the leaders want—for us to forget. And we refuse to forget.”

"The hunger strike is a humanitarian cry for help against hunger in Gaza," said activist Sayel Jabareen, campaigns director for the Combatants for Peace movement. "Every bite of food I give up is a reminder that Gaza is starving. It's an act of solidarity with those who no longer have anything to eat."