Gaza Youth Committee
The Gaza Youth Committee ({{langx|ar|لجنة شباب غزة}}) is a peace activism organization based in the Gaza Strip. It was founded in 2010 by Rami Aman.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Elhanan |date=March 21, 2019 |title=Hamas arrests Gaza peace activist over conference call with Israelis |url=https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/hamas-arrests-prominent-gaza-peace-activist-making-conference-call-israelis/ |access-date=November 6, 2023 |website=Plus 61J Media}} As of 2019, the group had more than 200 members.{{Cite web |last=Al-Sharif |first=Manar |date=November 21, 2019 |title=Mohammed's battle for a better future for the people of Gaza |url=https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/mohammeds-battle-better-future-people-gaza/ |website=Plus 61J Media}}
The organization is a member of Alliance for Middle East Peace.{{Cite web |title=Gaza Youth Committee |url=https://www.allmep.org/allmep_member/gaza-youth-committee/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Alliance for Middle East Peace |language=en-US}}
Activity
The Gaza Youth Committee "wants a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and an end to the Israeli siege on Gaza". Their primary strategy for obtaining these two goals is to support local youth{{Cite web |last=Ebenstein |first=Ruth |date=July 17, 2018 |title=Skyping With Gaza |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/skyping-with-gaza |access-date=November 17, 2023 |website=Tablet Magazine}} and to build interpersonal relationships between Gazans and Israelis, although the group has also tried to build relationships between Gazans and West Bank residents.{{Cite web |last=Trew |first=Bel |date=2019-06-02 |title=How a Ramadan scheme is connecting Americans to besieged Palestinians |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-ramadan-israel-palestine-us-skype-families-a8938886.html |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=The Independent |language=en}} The organization also holds non-violence trainings, and has held a letter-writing campaign addressed to international activists.
In 2015, the group began the initiative "Skype with your Enemy", in which the group hosts joint conference calls with both Palestinians and Israelis. During the calls, participants discuss the realities of life in Gaza and Israel.
In 2018, the group held a demonstration in which they released 200 doves, each with a message of peace.
In 2018 and 2019, the group organized Skype calls between Gaza residents and American citizens during Ramadan.
In March 2019, the group's founder, Rami Aman, was arrested following a "Skype with your Enemy" call; he was released shortly afterward.
On Yom HaZikaron 2019, the organization streamed the Alternative Memorial Ceremony, which took place in Tel Aviv and was organized by the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Family Forum and Combatants for Peace, in the Gaza Strip.{{Cite web |last=Schenker |first=Hillel |date=2019-05-11 |title=Bringing Hope to End the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict |url=https://www.fairobserver.com/region/middle_east_north_africa/end-israeli-palestinian-conflict-israel-palestine-peace-activism-world-news-48098/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Fair Observer}} In June of that year, the Gaza Youth Committee organized "Peace and Freedom" cycling and foot races, which were open to both Palestinian and Israeli participants.{{Cite web |last=Deane |first=Yvette J. |date=2019-06-23 |title=Israelis and Palestinians participate in historic run for peace |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/israelis-and-palestinians-participate-in-historic-run-for-peace-on-gaza-border-593353 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} Three GYC members were arrested after the event, and charged with "normalization".
In 2020, Aman, Manar al-Sharif, and a third GYC member were arrested, again following a Zoom call held with both Palestinians and Israelis.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-01 |title=Gaza man: After lengthy torture, Hamas forced me to divorce |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-middle-east-coronavirus-pandemic-marriage-gaza-strip-1836eabe150e816658907967835f029a |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}
References
External links
- [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064156502496 Official Facebook]
Category:2010 establishments in Asia
Category:Organizations based in Palestine
Category:Organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict