Malala Yousafzai, an activist, issued a remark on the one-sided “clash” between Israel and Palestine in the midst of a raging internet debate in which celebrities and notable persons are being criticised or praised for the side they support.
Malala started off her statement on X by saying, “I join the call for an immediate ceasefire.” “As I contemplate the recent awful news, I am reminded of the children who are trapped in the crossfire between Israel and Palestine. I first saw acts of violence and terrorism when I was only 11 years old. We heard mortar fire as we woke up and witnessed bombs detonating inside our mosques and schools. Peace ceased to be anything we could even imagine.
“War never spares children – not those taken from their homes in Israel, not those hiding from airstrikes, not those without food and water in Gaza,” the youngest Noble Prize recipient continued. I am in mourning today for all the children and people in the Holy Land who yearn for peace and fairness.
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) October 10, 2023
Her supporters, fans, admirers, and detractors all responded differently to the message. Some people applauded the peace activist for taking the easy way out and requesting a “immediate ceasefire.” Others, on the other hand, pointed out that by “both-siding” the issue—that is, insisting that both parties must stop acting aggressively—Malala had done a great harm to Palestinians. This inherently minimises the importance of the current power disparity between Israelis and Palestinians.
Right now, to demand anything less than the end of the occupation is to support Israel. In a nutshell. Should’ve kept silent instead of spouting this nonsense from both sides. What a fall from grace,” one user of X exclaimed. “It’s just…sad that people are using children as a convenient scapegoat to easily ignore the tremendous power disparity that exists between the two sides and the history of atrocities done over many years. It would have been better to simply remain silent, another person replied.
calling for anything less than the end of the occupation at this moment means you’re siding with israel. plain and simple. should’ve just stayed quiet instead of spewing this both sides garbage. what a fall from grace. https://t.co/jaYUiXFS1w
— Faizan 🇵🇸 (@thoraoffbeat) October 10, 2023
using children as a prop to conveniently erase out the massive asymmetry of power that exists between the two sides and the highly unequal history of atrocities committed for decades is just… sad. wouldve been better to just not have said anything. https://t.co/WZ1hkPma14
— در بہ در (@ZaphodGigglebox) October 10, 2023
There comes a point, particularly in specific circumstances, where it matters what type of platform you have and how you need to say things to make the utmost most of your position in society, as one X user observed. The sentence that follows is an illustration of the exact opposite. Someone else questioned, “Has there ever been a Nobel Peace Prize winner who, after winning the award, did not disappoint when it came to standing up for the cause of the oppressed?”
There comes a point in time, especially in certain situations, where it matters what kind of platform you have and how you need to word things to make the absolute most of your position in society.
The statement below is an example of the complete opposite. https://t.co/xEGQ7eDuh7
— Laveezah (@LavzKhan) October 10, 2023
Has there ever been a nobel peace prize winner who after winning the award did not disappoint when it came to standing up for the cause of oppressed? https://t.co/SSEFhrtXhH
— Zain Raza (@smzrz) October 10, 2023
what’s pissing me off is everyone is talking like everything was peaceful before this & that palestinians kids & women included weren’t getting killed and abused every day why did this amount of people whose voices get heard talk about the oppression palestine facing for 75 years https://t.co/g1NCnWtsQV
— HAPPY HUSBAND DAY⁷ (@xiaotanism) October 10, 2023
But there were many who stood up for her. Malala’s support for Palestine extends beyond the usual tweets and pronouncements. Her assistance is the kind that actually changes things on the ground. One might agree or disagree with her tweet, but calling her a “Western agent” or “foreign stooge” just demonstrates jealously and hatred of trivial, unimportant individuals, according to an X user. Another person remarked, “The haters will never stop. For being shot, she experienced actual bullying. It’s simple to criticise her, but incredibly difficult to accept what she actually does. She will regrettably always be held to a higher standard than real elected politicians who have actual authority to take action.
Malala’s help for Palestine goes beyond customary tweets and statements. Her help is the kind that makes an actual on ground impact. One can like or dislike her tweet but to label her a “western agent” or “foreign stooge” only shows jealousy and hatred of petty irrelevant people pic.twitter.com/5FGXqufVBf
— Syed Zain Raza (@SydZainRaza) October 10, 2023
The haters are never going to stop. She was literally bullied for being shot. It’s easy to target her, but so so hard to acknowledge what she actually does. She’ll sadly forever be held at a higher standard than actual elected officials w/actual powers to do something! https://t.co/uiZITQIiBH
— Sheeba Khan (@sheeba_k5) October 11, 2023
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.