By Hannah Saunders

When government leaders across the globe have repeatedly failed Palestinians, citizens continue to stand up and speak out against the gruesome genocide taking place. Seattle Against War, Nidal, and Bil-yad are hoping for the biggest march in the city in months to call for an end to the siege on Gaza— and all hands are needed on deck. 

The rally will start on Sunday, August 17, at Westlake Plaza at 3 p.m., and people are encouraged to bring their pots and pans to make some noise. 

“We recognize that many folks in the U.S. have felt disempowered as our government is not only complicit in the continuing genocide but are actively invested in it, and that the Trump administration has only doubled down on repressing our voices. But it has never been clearer that we have a moral obligation to speak up and act as a powerful collective that refuses normalization of genocide!” organizers announced. 

One organizer told Through the Static that half a million Palestinians are facing death from Israel’s forced starvation, which the U.S. has been complicit in. 

“To make matters worse, the ‘Gaza Humanitarian Fund’ that the US created to control food distribution into Gaza, replacing actual humanitarian aid organizations, has been complicit in over 1,000 murders of civilians at aid distribution sites since May,” the group said. 

Organizers ask that those who plan to attend gather as many people as possible to come with and show solidarity. They even suggested having a sign-building art night, and to make travel plans in advance. 

Palestinians, who are still being bombed and massacred, are collapsing and dying from starvation. Israel intentionally targeted an Al Jazeera crew who were in a tent outside of Al-Shifa hospital. The bomb killed 5 journalists, including Anas Al-Sharif, who was considered the voice of Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel would be fully occupying Gaza, closing in on the extermination phase of the genocide— trying to forever silence all Palestinian voices. 

But despite the incessant violence, including mass arrests of peaceful protestors for Palestine, citizens across the world continue to demand and take action and pour out into the streets. 

On August 10, Seattle Families 4 Palestine kicked off a nationwide fasting relay initiative to draw attention to the forced starvation in Gaza, which will conclude on the day of the protest. Participants can choose four different fasting options for a handful or just a few days.  

Activists across over 44 countries are to set sail to Gaza, departing from Spain on August 31, to end the siege, with the idea being that Israel will struggle to intercept hundreds of flotillas carrying humanitarian aid. 

This Sunday’s protest is backed by Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Seattle Families for Palestine, Veterans for Peace Chapter 92, No Azure for Apartheid, Haebang, SARI, and Super UW.