The more I reflect on Israel’s propaganda and the misdirection of the Zionist lobby, the more enraged I become.

The attack in Bondi was indefensible, traumatising and obscene. Regardless of the shooters’ motives (which haven’t actually been established or articulated) or their alleged links to ISIS (an acronym that has itself become a political shibboleth designed to stoke fear of Muslim savagery in Anglo-Christian populations, and whose targets have historically been simply “The West” and therefore not specifically motivated by antisemitism anyway), the end result is the same - Jewish people living in fear, and used as political pawns to further the political goals of groups willing to exploit anyone for power.

The logical response here is not to declare this wretched act the fault of anyone who protests Israel, or who denounces their violence against Palestinians. To protest Israel and denounce their actions is the morally just thing to do, just as it is morally just to protest and denounce the actions of anyone who terrorises on the basis of greed and hatred.

These moments are exploited to further entrench ideological combat, when they should be felt as recognisable solidarity. The horrifying terror felt on one afternoon in Bondi is terror that has been inflicted in Gaza and broader Palestine every day for over two years (and then some), in far more catastrophic degrees and with the support of western governments, citizen complicity and yes, Zionist support - and that has been vigorously defended worldwide as being necessary to “defend civilisation”.

Imagine if the attack in Bondi was replicated every day for more than 700 days, amplified by starvation, bombings, mass displacement and the targeting of children specifically. Imagine if instead of the wall to wall coverage received, the people targeted in Bondi (day after day, for more than 700 days) were not only ignored by western governments but actively killed by them in the form of weapons supply. Imagine if the majority of the world ignored their terror and suffering, claiming it was “complicated” and besides I don’t like to get political. Imagine if the attempts of people outside of Bondi to try to get someone, ANYONE, to intervene and help were met with accusations of hatred and queries about whether they believed the shooters deserve the right to exist.

Imagine if the people trapped in Bondi weren’t allowed to leave, not that day nor any day that preceded or followed it.

How could you not intimately understand the parallels between your own fear and that inflicted in your name?

Jewish people are living in fear - and I believe that to be true - primarily because Israel wants them to be. It’s what maintains the scaffolding of Israel, which in turns helps maintain the scaffolding of white supremacy in the west. Jewish people are expendable first and foremost to the Israeli state, because Israel maintains its power through cultivating that fear and using them as human shields against criticism of Israel’s violence.

Jewish people HAVE been exposed to threat here and everywhere, but it’s not because of the Palestinian liberation movement’s refusal to deny humanity to the Palestinian people (which is always framed as being a conspiracy to cover mass hunger for antisemitism). Jewish people are exposed to threat here and everywhere because it suits Israel to use them that way. Their blood is on the hands of a genocidal state who doesn’t risk retaliation because of their actions BUT RELIES ON IT.

These are the machinations of forces that see our toxic obsession with “culture wars” as an opportunity to advance their pieces on the board, and Israel cheats more than anyone while playing the game.

The struggle and liberation of Jewish people is intrinsically connected to Palestinians, not in opposition to it - because it is a struggle rooted in humanity and the right to freedom and safety that belongs to us all. Our collective goal must be to recognise who the real enemies of justice are, and where they’re placing the call from.

I refuse to be drawn into manipulative narratives that seek to silence humanitarian advocacy.

Fuck Israel, and free everyone from them.