Israeli military drones are replacing the actual military, giving orders, threatening, and murdering Palestinians.
Last year in March, on the apartheid Shuhada street that is closed to Palestinians, Israeli drones were moving over the sky making very loud noises, but not louder than settler music celebrating Purim. We, as CPT observers, were watching the celebration from one of the community member’s rooftops, who invited us to document any harassment that was likely to occur. Unfortunately, Jewish holidays tend to be a very stressful time in Palestine, especially in al Khalil/Hebron. Last year was Hebron’s settlers’ year, since Israeli Minister of National Security Ben Gavir is from Kiryat-Arba’ settlement, and of course, he was participating in the Purim celebration of Palestinian closed homes and shops—buildings that used to have a main door on Suhada street but their doors have been welded closed and they have to find another way to get to their home. In light of these ‘celebrations’, we were aware that Israeli forces will impose more “security measures”, which actually means more restrictions on Palestinians.
Getting back to the drones: there were many, but there was one that approached very close to us. We ignored it; it’s just a flying camera, and they probably already have hundreds of our photos in their database. But a few minutes later, we noticed the drone was getting closer to us. Suddenly, we heard noises coming out of the drone; it sounded like someone was talking but wasn’t clear, so we continued to ignore it. The drone got even closer to us and said with a clear voice in broken Arabic, “Get inside, NOW.” Strangely enough, the immediate response of my teammate and I was to laugh out loud. I think our brains couldn’t process that a drone was speaking to us and us giving orders, so we ignored it again and kept observing. But then the drone came within 20 centimetres of our heads, and said it louder, “get inside, NOW.” Finally, we decided to go inside, for our safety and the safety of the local member who invited us on the roof of their home.
I hadn’t considered writing about this incident until this year, when I heard other horrific stories about Israeli drones, tactics that were used massively during this ongoing genocide on Gaza. We have heard about a drone that makes sounds of infants crying and uses women’s voices asking for help. People hear these sounds and go out to offer help but then the Israeli military targets and murders them with a small drone. I personally thought drones were used to capture amazing bird’s-eye landscape videography, but apparently, it’s not! Not with the Israeli military at least.
The QuadCopter drone is another well-known name for Gazans, who have memorized the sound of the murderous machine above their heads. Survivors have documented through social media how people were walking in Gaza, trying to find shelter and escape from Israeli missiles, but were followed by QuadCopters that started dropping bombs and shooting “randomly” at them. There are dozens of similar stories, but one specific story reminded me of what happened with us Last Purim Holiday. A displaced family was followed by a Quadcopter that stopped them, investigated them, and humiliated them, ordering them to remove their clothes, to check if they have any weapons.
How sick is the zionist mindset! The Israeli military uses machines to follow Palestinians refugees, shoot at them and humiliate them, while soldiers control the drones from miles away. Do we even need human beings to kill and murder anymore? I think we all should be scared for the upcoming generation. Those few people, who have the power and the money, will be able to control everything with machines. This will be a horrific time that will remove any sympathy or empathy in the world.
As I watch this reality play out, I am reminded of science fiction movies like The Maze Runner, Divergent, and especially The Hunger Games, where the privileged class of the Capitol are the rulers who choose people from the 12 working-class Districts and insert them into some real-life game show of survival for people to watch and enjoy. This is very similar to what is happening in Palestine.
However, when people see movies like this, they immediately empathize with the oppressed. They even fantasize about them, feel their pain, and watch the movie hoping that they will win and rise above this horror. But when it comes to real life, it becomes a very complicated issue, controversial, or people feel they are not educated enough about it, so they can’t speak up.
Consider this a call from District 12. I don’t know which part of the world you are in, but if you are reading this, you are at least educated about what is happening and want to learn more. This danger is not only threatening us, Palestinians; it should concern you too, in your own community. We need to stop the weapons business and stand against the war merchants who benefit from our misery. The world’s largest producer of weapons is the United States, with 41.7% of international arms sales, followed by France and Russia. We are all connected in the struggle against militarism.
I am writing this while sitting in a very authentic cafe in downtown Amman. I had the privilege to leave Palestine for a break. This place, called Jadal or “Controversy,” was founded by a young man in 2012 who felt the need for youth to have such a safe space to learn, teach, get involved, and share their thoughts. There are many photos, quotes, and drawings, but these three were next to each other:
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” – Rosa Luxemburg
“If you think we can’t change the world, it just means you are not one of those who will.” – Jacque Fresco
“Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act.” – Albert Einstein
I was touched by these quotes. I felt they were speaking to me, each of them at different times in my life, through my ups and downs. I know you are feeling overwhelmed, disappointed, scared, depressed, or even useless. I understand; I felt the same. But that’s what the “Capitol” wants us to believe: that we can’t do anything, that we can’t make real change, that we can’t change the system. But that is the power of people, the power of our voices. I know it’s hard, but it’s not impossible.
Our voices scare them, so let’s keep scaring them. The world is watching, and history is being written. Let’s write it together. Let’s spread our narrative.