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Joshua Scheer
Israel’s far-right government has recently approved the construction of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. These settlements are considered illegal under international law, as the West Bank is recognized as occupied territory and the expansion of settlements undermines Palestinian rights.
Amnesty International researcher Budour Hassan describes this policy as reinforcing an “apartheid system” in the West Bank, meaning a system of segregation and discrimination that favors Israeli settlers over the Palestinian population.
Experts warn that continuing to build settlements makes it increasingly difficult to establish a viable Palestinian state, further entrenching the Israeli occupation and threatening any future peace agreements.
In short, the move intensifies the occupation, worsens inequality, and complicates prospects for Palestinian self-determination.
For more on Budour Hassan’s work: Budour Hassan, a Palestinian feminist, international lawyer, and human rights researcher at Amnesty International, played a central role in the landmark December 2024 report that concluded Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—the first such finding by an international human rights organization.
Hassan’s journey is deeply personal. Once a blind 19-year-old law student navigating the streets of Jerusalem, she defied her family’s expectations to become a leading voice for justice. Today, she delivers a powerful call to action: “Solidarity is naming the perpetrator, rejecting silence, refusing the passive voice… Solidarity is not just a word; it’s an action repeated over and over.”
Here Hassan offers a powerful reflection in her essay, “’A Fear of Negation’: Reading Edward Said in the Time of Genocide,” examining Said’s ability to remain critically engaged—with Arab and Palestinian leadership, societal challenges, and his own role as narrator—while honoring the full complexity of Palestinian life.
Hassan writes, “Even though it was under a blockade, Gaza was a living reenactment of what Edward Said would describe as the drama of Palestinian existence.” Drawing on Said’s insight, she highlights how grief can be transformed into a political tool, allowing us to honor not only Gaza’s martyrs but the city itself, with all its beauty and contradictions.
“This is the strength of Edward Said’s writing: that he was able to see the full spectrum of Palestinian humanity.”
Budour Hassan is a vital voice for the world—an indispensable voice on the global stage whose insights and advocacy resonate far beyond her community. She is a critical voice the world needs to hear, calling attention to human rights, justice, and the urgent struggles facing Palestinians today.
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