On Thursday, July 31, at 10:00 AM at the Tel HaShomer military base, activists from the Mesarvot network will hold a demonstration in support of enlistment refuser Ayana Gerstmann, an 18-year-old from Ramat-Gan. Gerstman will refuse to enlist in the Israeli army in protest of the war and genocide in Gaza, which has already killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and has destroyed entire cities, and in opposition to the on-going occupation of the Palestinian people. Alongside her, 18-year-old Yuval Peleg, from Kfar Saba, will also refuse to enlist tomorrow morning.
Ayana Gerstmann: “Throughout the war, I’ve heard countless times the statement ‘There are no innocents in Gaza’ – and I’m horrified. I see this statement becoming more and more normalized. I see people who truly believe that not even the youngest child in Gaza is innocent, and therefore deserves no mercy. And to that I say: A child is always innocent! As a citizen of this country, I say in a clear voice: the destruction of Gaza – not in my name! The occupation – not in my name! I refuse to stay silent, in the hope that my voice will open the eyes of others in our society and awaken their awareness of what is being done in their name – until they too can no longer remain silent.”
Yuval Peleg: “Despite all the crimes, the nations of the world continue to supply the Israeli destruction machine with weapons and funding. I will soon be imprisoned for my refusal to take part in the slaughter and I call upon you, the people of the world: intensify the struggle! Join me and resist the destruction and genocide with all your power.”
Photo credit: Soul Behar Tsalik, Mesarvot Network.
