Activists gathered in front of the United States Embassy in Manila on October 5 to protest what they described as Israel’s “genocide” against the Palestinian people, a campaign they claim is backed by U.S. military aid.
The protest, which marked the International Day of Action, included members of the Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP) alongside several progressive groups.
“A history of ethnic cleansing that intensified in 1948, the current conflict has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children as of September,” said Kej Andres, SCMP National Chairperson.
He described the situation in Palestine as “a living hell, especially for the youth,” where children as young as 10 are reportedly writing their wills amidst the ongoing violence.
According to Andres, the destruction of schools and universities in Palestine has severely impacted the youth’s right to education.
He expressed dismay over the silence of many on the issue, while pointing to the complicity of the United States, which provides 69 percent of Israel’s arms. “Israel is the number one recipient of U.S. military aid in the world,” he said.
The protest came as Israeli offensives reportedly increased in Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Lebanon.
Protesters emphasized that these acts of displacement and conflict trace back to the early 20th century, with the 1948 Nakba, or catastrophe, leading to the systematic expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians.
Many of these displaced individuals, the group noted, continue to live as second-class citizens, facing discrimination in employment, the justice system, and property rights.
Andres urged Christians to distinguish between the biblical Israel and the modern state to address the sensitive topic of the Christian perspective on Israel.
He argued that “today’s Israel is very un-Christian,” accusing its military forces of killing Christians in Palestine.
He further asserted that modern Israel was a geopolitical creation by the British Empire to serve its interests in the region, a role now being carried out by the United States.
“We continue not only to call for a ceasefire but to ultimately end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands,” he said.
In Gaza, Israeli attacks since October 2023 have resulted in at least 41,825 deaths and 96,910 injuries. In Israel, the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 left at least 1,139 people dead and over 200 taken captive.
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