Miguela Xuereb

On March 31st, as Malta commemorates its historic Freedom Day, a coalition of activists, academics, and civil society groups organised a solidarity event to honour Land Day in Palestine, focussing on the persistent Palestinian fight for self-determination and justice amidst Israeli occupation.

The gathering in Malta showcased an impressive array of speakers, such as Dania Haddad, Joanna Jebaili, Sammy Meilaq, Andre Callus, Prof. David Zammit, Yana Mintoff, and Sana El-Nahhal.

A diverse array of perspectives emerged, spanning grassroots activism, academia, and cultural advocacy, all coming together to demand an end to Israel’s prolonged occupation and the systematic oppression faced by Palestinians.

Land Day marks the significant events of March 30, 1976, when Israel’s intentions to appropriate around 20 square kilometres of land in the Galilee ignited widespread demonstrations among Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The response to these protests was deadly: six unarmed individuals—three of whom were women—lost their lives; more than a hundred sustained injuries; and hundreds were taken into custody.

The land seizures formed a part of a larger plan aimed at transforming the demographic makeup of the area, which resulted in the further marginalisation of Arab communities.

Speakers stated that these policies have not only persisted but have also deteriorated. With the move into 2024, the circumstances have intensified to a level that numerous global analysts are now characterising as genocide. More than 50,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza due to ongoing bombings, starvation, and a lack of medical resources.

The current blockade and military actions breach several principles of international law and disregard recent decisions made by the International Court of Justice, which has called on nations to avert further atrocities and maintain humanitarian standards.

The organisers of the event urged for swift and impactful international measures, calling for the termination of Israel’s military occupation, an end to its discriminatory apartheid practices, and the recognition of the right of return for all Palestinian refugees.

Significant attention was directed towards the influence of Western nations—most notably the United States—in facilitating these violations via diplomatic and military backing.

A collaborative declaration called on the Maltese government and the global community to move beyond silence and complicity. The coalition urged for a military embargo on Israel, adherence to international law, and a cessation of what it termed the “genocidal axis” endangering Palestinian existence.

A diverse array of Maltese and international organisations showed their support for the solidarity event, including:

Ġustizzja għall-Palestina Moviment Graffitti The Association for Justice, Equality and Peace (AJEP) The Lebanese Advocates Youth for Palestine The Watermelon Warriors Il-Progressivi PEN Malta aditus Foundation Blue Door Education Żminijietna 

As Malta commemorates its liberation from foreign rule, speakers stressed that genuine solidarity involves acknowledging and aiding the struggles of others for freedom, especially that of the Palestinians.