Award season is over, the Palestinian genocide is not

Like every year, we’ve watched Hollywood walk red carpets, win awards, and entertain audiences for the past five months. The 96th Annual Academy Awards marked the end of award season. Unlike the years before, this time around, we’re watching the state of Israel commit acts of genocide live on our screens.

Those advocating for a ceasefire, calling out Israel’s war crimes, or merely calling for peace, are being dropped from their agencies, cut from upcoming productions, and allegedly blacklisted. Based on these consequences, speaking out against Israel’s occupation and massacre of Palestinians is seemingly frowned upon in Hollywood. Nevertheless, last night at the 96th annual Academy Awards, a handful of celebrities took to the red carpet to express their desire for a ceasefire or outright support of the Palestinians.

Watching artists grace the red carpet, knowing that pro-Palestine protesters were shutting down roads just outside was comforting. Yet seeing how Hollywood intends to keep spinning, with little consideration to the realities of the world that it draws inspiration from felt dystopian.

While this genocide has ravaged 30, 000+ lives, displaced millions, and destroyed priceless artefacts of human history, I have had very little to say about anything except, “free Palestine”. If I’m feeling this in my personal life in my private life, how are public figures putting blinders on so easily? I ask this not because I want an answer, rather because I’m incredulous. I’m sure most answers would sicken me; but wow, this is brazen.

Hind Rajab, 6, Trapped Under Israeli Fire Found After 12 Days

I remember when I was working on my undergraduate degree and learning about the genocide in Rwanda. At the time, we were taught that when the word “genocide” was used to describe any given situation, the United Nations was obliged to help. I watched a video of politicians tip-toe around the word genocide back then and thought to myself, “What’s so hard about acknowledging a genocide?”

Watching the slaughter of Palestinians has answered that question. It’s hard for people to see Palestinians as human beings with human rights, when their economic or social interests are negatively impacted.