Opposition to the Current War on Palestine
Ometeotl
With permission of Creator, of the sacred directions, of the sacred elements, of our sacred Madre Tierra, and with the permission of all of our hearts, the co-founders of the Institute and the Institute Council of 13 stand with the Palestinian people in Gaza and denounce the horrific acts of genocide by Israel and its Military. The Institute is a community-building entity focused on wellness and strengths of the Chicana/o/x community through the lens of Chicana/o/x Psychology and Indigenous Wellness. In our work, we address both risk and protective factors related to the wellness of the Chicana/o /x community, including historical factors of oppression as well as ancestral strengths and wisdom.
Our stance in this current conflict, that has escalated for over 100 days after Oct. 7th, rests largely on the reality that since Oct. 7th the Israeli military and government is responsible for the deaths of over 24,000 Palestinians. Euro-Med Monitor reports over 30,000 Palestinian deaths. Most of these deaths are children and women - 70%. The Israeli deaths as a result of this conflict rests at approximately 1,400.
To be clear, we hear the cries of all who have died violently in this war. We do not advocate terrorism or the indiscriminate killing of anyone or any group of people. We can not close our eyes to the reality that the actions of the Israeli military have amounted to the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian people. Despite official statements and rhetoric, Israel’s continuing attacks and military engagement has not been a tactical war only on Hamas. We also declare that when a State’s military has killed nearly 23,000, while losing 1,400 of their own people, then that state is, in no objective realm, fighting a “defense war.”
At what point, in order to retain one’s humanity, does a State choose to stop the indiscriminate killing of a people?
We rebuke the actions of settler colonialism, the mass murder of innocent lives, war crimes, and human rights violations made by the Israeli army. To live in right relationship with each other and with our Madre Tierra, we must always strive to be in balance, to protect and respect the Ometeotl - sacred creation of life. The military offensive of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people is at its foundation a spiritual imbalance. It is the violence of erasure at the hands of an organized, internationally recognized, “legitimately” funded military that is currently choking the Palestinian people out of existence. We support the well-being of all people and all life, both Palestinian and Israeli alike; however, we do not support the ongoing bombings and attacks on civilian homes, hospitals, and refugee camps, thus killing thousands of innocent lives.
Access to food is a universal human right. Our Madre provides us with all we need to survive and thrive. To intentionally block access to food as a government sanctioned tactic is reprehensible. We implore and call on basic human decency for Israel to stop using starvation as a tool of war.
As we honor all lives lost, we take space here especially to honor all the children who have been killed.
100 children are killed every day in Gaza, according to Doctors without Borders
Children are sacred.
Children are sacred.
Children are sacred.
We honor and bless the souls of the children who have crossed over due to this intentional violence. All children are OUR children.
We stand with the Palestinian people for their liberation, safety, and independence from Israel. Our stand is not necessarily with a particular nation-state. Our stand is with the people. We call on all people to rely on their fundamental humanity in order to bear witness and speak out against the sanctioned inhumanity we see occurring in Gaza.
We understand that Israel's current position is dismantling Hamas. As these killings continue, we leave these remaining questions for all those in positions of power who are continuing to support the current Israeli government in this war: What will be done if Hamas never surrenders? What if they continue to fight on? Under Israel’s current strategy, the war will continue. If Hamas continues, will the Israeli leaders continue until ultimately succeeding in the genocide of a whole people? At what point must a choice be made in order to retain one’s humanity?
We, as a council, represent members of the Xicanx community from all walks of life and acknowledge the power our voice holds when we stand together against genocide and violence.
Toward Liberation & Healing,
The Council of 13
