Resources
We at Bystanders No More (many of us recovering bystanders) encourage you to act in accordance with your moral compass. We know there are many reasons you might be reluctant to speak openly in support of Palestinians, against Israel’s policies, or in opposition to your government’s actions.
On this page, you will find insightful information, research, reporting, and analysis by respected scholars, political scientists, activists, lawyers, academics, and journalists who are rarely featured on mainstream media. We hope this will help you understand what is happening to Palestinians today (and why) so that you can form your own opinion and choose what actions to take.
Websites
Zeteo
Zeteo, a newer media organization, describes itself as a movement for media accountability. They generally provide an alternative to mainstream media coverage that often ignores or denies Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestine Legal
Palestine Legal protects the civil and constitutional rights of people in the U.S. who speak out for Palestinian freedom.
Jewish Voice for Labour
Jewish Voices for Labour is a community for Jewish labour party members, ex-members and never been members.
Al-Shabaka
Al-Shabaka convenes a multidisciplinary, global network of Palestinian analysts to produce critical policy analysis and collectively imagine a new policymaking paradigm for Palestine and Palestinians worldwide.
Articles
A Threshold Crossed – Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
The report explains how human rights watch has found that Israel has committed the crime of appartheid in Palestinian Occupied territory, policies to mantain the domination of Israeli Jewish over Palestinians.
Human Rights Watch
The Palestine Timeline (1770–Present)
In short, this timeline illuminates the last dying vestiges of old world empire in Palestine, the profoundly cruel treatment endured by her indigenous inhabitants, and how their struggle, though not always pretty, was always and only ever resisting colonialism, regardless of who brought it to their ancestral lands.
Paul Nabil Matthis
How American public opinion on Palestine shifted
Overlapping connections among young activists struggling for the rights of women, 2SLGBTQIA+, Black Lives Matter, indigenous Indians, Latinos, and all people of color have produced a dramatic shift in how the PalestinianâIsraeli conflict is being perceived in the United States.
The Cairo Review
Ten Myths About Israel by Illan Pappe
In this book the outspoken and radical Israeli historian Ilan Pappe examines the most contested ideas concerning the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel.
Why Palestine Matters – The Struggle To End Colonialism
This book explores why Palestine’s situation matters on a global scale, its international repurcussions, and how it intersects with other progressive movements.
Palestine for beginners
After World War I, the League of Nations (controlled by the leading colonial powers of the time, Britain and France) carved up the territories of the defeated Ottoman Empire.
Merip – Middle East Research and Information Project
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace, the world’s largest Jewish progressive and anti-Zionist organization in the world, defines what Zionism is, its history, and how they believe it counters Jewish ideals.
Diary: Three Genocides
British-Isreali architect and professor Eyal Weizman details the Palestine conflict through the lens of Germany’s policy of extermination of Nama and Ovaherero peoples in South-West Africa (now called Namibia).
London Review of Books
Seeing Gaza Clearly by Daniel Levy
Daniel Levy is the President of the U.S./Middle East Project (USMEP) and served as a senior Israeli peace negotiator. His take on why Jewish students are playing such a major role in the student protests is illuminating and hopeful.
[This Substack is private and will require a free subscription to view.]
The Ideas Letter
Yes, it is genocide
Dr. Amos Goldberg is a Jewish Holocaust specialist who lives in Israel and works as the Jonah M. Machover Chair in Holocaust Studies in the Department of Jewish History and Contemporary Jewry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He makes the case that “the fact that what is happening in Gaza does not resemble the [Nazi] Holocaust does not mean that it is not genocide.”
The Palestine Project
Tolerance is a Wasteland, Saree Makdisi – A review
Saree Makdisi is an American literary critic and professor specializing in eighteenth and nineteenth century British literature. He is of Palestinian and Lebanese descent. He also writes on contemporary Arab politics and culture.
Jewish Voice for Labour
Why Israel’s failing strategy is making its enemy stronger, Robert Pape
Robert Pape is a Palestinian politician, activist and scholar.
Foreign Affairs
Maha Husseini: “You can take away my award, but you won’t take away my voice”
Maha Hussaini is an award-winning journalist and human rights activist based in Gaza. Maha started her journalism career by covering Israel’s military campaign on the Gaza Strip in July 2014. In 2020, she won the prestigious Martin Adler Prize for her work as a freelance journalist.
Middle East Eye
What is new antisemitism?
Antony Lerman is a British writer and specialist in the study of antisemitism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, multiculturalism, and the place of religion in society. He was Director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, a think tank on issues affecting Jewish communities in Europe.
Jewish Currents
Why it’s so hard to talk about Gaza
Sophia A. McClennen, Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature, discusses common threats faced by supporters of Palestinian human rights, including accusations of antisemitism, doxing, arrest, and compromised safety.
Salon
The Israel trip that showed Jamaal Bowman the realities of apartheid
Calder McHugh is an American writer and journalist who details the eye-opening experience that may have cost Jamaal Bowman his seat in the US Congress.
POLITICO
Stop this slaughter
Arundathi Roy is an Indian author and political activist best known for her novel, God of Small Things. She is also the winner of the Pen Pinter Prize for 2024.
Hammer & Hope
This is how AIPAC really works
M.J. Rosenberg worked as a Senate and House aide, at the State Department, at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), at Israel Policy Forum, and at Media Matters For America.
The Nation
A big money operation purged critics of Israel from the Democratic Party
Ryan Grim is The Intercept’s D.C. Bureau Chief and the host of the podcast Deconstructed. He authors the newsletter Politics With Ryan Grim and was previously the Washington bureau chief for HuffPost, where he led a team that was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and won once.
The Intercept
In Gaza and Ukraine, morality is the enemy of peace
Stephen Walt is Professor of International Relations at KSG and Political Analyst.
Foreign Policy
The Gaza Genocide in Western Media: Culprits of Complicity
Palestinian policy expert Hawari details Western media complicity in the conflict.
Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network
Ireland should impose sanctions on Israel to stop Palestinian deaths – activists
Palestinian human rights leader Jabarin says that Ireland should impose sanctions on Israel to stop Palestinian deaths.
The Independent
‘We Have to Take Sides’ – Rev Munther Isaacs Says Gaza Genocide Has Divided the World
Palestinian Christian pastor Rev Isaac Munther makes a moral case for taking sides.
The Palestine Chronicle
Gaza and the Breakdown of International Law
Legal scholar Oona Hathaway writes in Foreign Affairs, “The conflict in Gaza is an extreme example of the breakdown of the law of war, but it is not an isolated one.”
Foreign Affairs
‘Where is International Law?’ – Mustafa Barghouti Slams Western Governments’ Hypocrisy
Palestinian politician and activist Mustafa Barghouti calls international law into question. “We are not talking about Palestine here, we are talking about the global order of the world.”
The Palestine Chronicle
Khaled Elgindy on his book: Blind Spot: America and the Palestinians, from Balfour to Trump
Khaled Elgindy is a political analyst and former Palestinian negotiator. In this audio recording, he discusses America’s failed peacemaking efforts between Israel and Palestine with host Brene Brown.
Brene Brown
Placing Gaza in the Broader U.S. Foreign Policy Context: an interview with Josh Paul
Josh Paul worked directly in arms transfers for the U.S. State Department. He resigned in October 2023 in protest of providing weapons for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
World Geostrategic Insights
The US Needs to Say “No” to Israel and “Yes” to Palestine
James Zogby is a longtime member of the Democratic National Committee and founder of the Arab American Institute. Here he makes the case for changing US policy.
Dr. James J. Zogby
A Palestinian view of Hamas’ attack on Israel, one of the worst in Israel’s history
NPR interviews Palestinian politician, activist, and scholar, Hanan Ashrawi.
NPR
‘No doubt’ Netanyahu preventing hostage deal, charges ex-spokesman of Families Forum
A former spokesman for the Hostages and Missing Families Forum makes the case that the Netanyahu administration has not prioritised the release of the hostages. Various reasons why are explored.
The Times of Israel
Videos
In Gaza, Filmmakers Asked Children: What Is Your Dream?
We often measure the tragedy of war in the suffering of children, but rarely do we hear from them. Filmmakers asked children in Gaza, a seemingly simple question: What is your dream?
NYT Opinion
The Origins of the Israel/Palestine Conflict
This documentary explains the story of Palestine and Israel, starting from the Ottoman empire to the british mandate, Balfour declaration.
Then & Now Youtube channel
Israelism – the awakening of young American Jews
This documentary about two young American Jews raised to support Israel unconditionally witness the way Israel treats Palestinians, it changes their lives.
How I survive: a seven-year-old’s life in Gaza
A child trying to find normality in life, such as brushing her hair using the mirror in the car. It’s a movie about the strength of a child and her relationship and the simple things in life in the midst of tremendous hardship.
The Guardian
The US could have stopped Israel on day one
Professor and author Norman Finkelstein, named the fifth most influential political scientist in the world for the years 2000-2020, is a son of Holocaust survivors advocating for Palestinian liberation.
Norman Finkelstein on Al Jazeera English
Gaza is our Home
This film uncovers first-hand the true scale of suffering endured by the film-maker’s own family trapped within the Gaza Strip. It is more than just a film, it is a behind-the-headlines look into the lives of those currently suffering.
By Monear Shaer
Supporting Palestinian rights is antisemitic because Israel wants it to be
Abraham Gutman, an Israeli economist and writer, is an opinion staff writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Abraham Gutman on NBC News
Nero’s Guests
Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for 15 years for The New York Times, discusses genocide, censorship, and international law.
The Chris Hedges YouTube channel
The Israel Lobby with John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt
Jewish American political analyst and professor at Kennedy School of Government and Stephen Walt make the case for the existence of an Israeli Lobby.
Dr. John Mearsheimer and Dr. Stephen Walt with Dr. Michael Desch on Notre Dame International Security Center YouTube channel
US Congressman says killing civilians is a necessary price to pay
Mehdi presses pro-Israel Democrat on support for ICC sanctions and Gaza destruction.
Democrat Congressman Dean Phillips on Zeteo
Palestinian American Dr. walks out of Biden meeting, hands him letter from 8-year-old orphan in Gaza
Palestinian-American Dr. Thaer Ahmad makes a strong moral argument to elected officials and those in positions of power.
Dr. Thaer Ahmad on Democracy Now!
Endgame for Netanyahu – Israeli Analyst Ori Goldberg gives devastating assessment
Ori Goldberg is an Israeli analyst, interdisciplinary scholar, and senior researcher whose work focuses on the interaction between religious faith and political behavior.
Ori Goldberg on Owen Jones Youtube channel
A world where ‘self-defence’ is used as justification for genocide
Professor and human rights attorney Noura Erakat explains the binding nature of international law and Western complicity in the ongoing tragedies in Gaza.
Noura Erakat on Al Jazeera English
Jews must raise their voices for Palestine, oppose the false idol of Zionism
Renowned author Naomi Klein is one of the leading progressive Jewish thought leaders in North America. She was initially supportive of Israel’s right to self defence but has since become a vocal critic of Israel and US policy.
Naomi Klein on Democracy Now!
General Assembly – UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on the right to food
Michael Fakhri is the UN expert and Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. He is generally a softly spoken academic but he gave this very serious warning about using starvation as a weapon of war.
Michael Fakhri on UN Watch
Situation in Gaza ‘traumatising’ for humanitarian aid workers: UN coordinator
Martin Griffiths, the UN Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He also noted the global trend of impunity for violence, urging stronger international efforts to address such crises.
Martin Griffiths on Al Jazeera English
Israel’s Systematic Strategy to Destroy Palestinians
Dr. Mads Gilbert is a Norwegian physician who worked in Palestine, offers a medical professionalâs perspective on the destruction of healthcare infrastructure in Gaza.
Dr. Mads Gilbert on TRT World Digital YouTube
Jewish Biden appointee publicly resigns over Gaza
Jewish Biden appointee to publicly resign over Gaza talks about the disconnect between Jewish values, safety, and Biden’s words and actions in the ongoing war.
Lily Greenberg Call on Democracy Now!
This militaristic approach has been a failure
Hala Rharrit the first U.S. Diplomat to quit over Gaza – sending military equipment to countries committing human rights abuses is a violation of domestic law.
Hala Rharrit on Democracy Now!
A Call for Healing
Author and trauma specialist Dr. Gabor Mate discusses Palestine and Israel from the perspective of a Holocaust survivor who has dedicated his life to studying (and working through) trauma and finding paths to repair.
Dr. Gabor Mate and Soren Gordhamer on Science and Nonduality
Q&A with Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory
UN Special Rapporteur determines the threshold indicating Israel is committing the crime of genocide against the people of Palestine has been met.
Francesca Albanese on UN Human Rights Council YouTube channel
The algebra of genocide
Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was a foreign correspondent for 15 years for The New York Times, discusses genocide, censorship, and international law.
The Chris Hedges Report
A history of Jewish Anti-Zionism: from The Communist Party to The New Left
Dr. Benjamin Balthaser book, Citizens of the Whole World: The American Jewish Left and Cultures of Anti-Zionism.
Dr. Benjamin Balthaser on Letters and Politics YouTube channel
Palestine is a moral litmus test for the world
Scholar-activist Angela Davis links Palestine to other liberatory struggles around the globe, highlighting the longstanding solidarity between Black Americans and Palestinians.
Angela Davis on Al Jazeera English