Gazans Killed by Israeli Attacks Given a Voice: Not Numbers Humanizes Victims
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the media often portrays Palestinians in Gaza as either perpetual victims or deserving of destruction. This constant dehumanization erases the humanity of Gazans, leaving them voiceless in the world. However, a group called Not Numbers is seeking to change this narrative.
Unlike major news outlets that primarily provide a running tally of dead Palestinians, Not Numbers aims to present a vivid picture of the lives, aspirations, and dreams of the Gazans killed by Israel. This initiative adds a human dimension to the grim statistics that seem to dominate media coverage.
Aya Soufa, the founder of Not Numbers and a Palestinian residing in Scotland, explained that their goal is to create an open-source database containing not only the names of those who have perished but also details about their lives. The group encourages its members to contribute pictures and descriptions of the individuals, shedding light on who they were as people.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 8,796 Palestinians, including 3,648 children, have been killed by Israel, and this number continues to rise. Concerns have been raised about the accuracy of casualty figures, with US President Joe Biden expressing doubts. In response, the Ministry of Health released a PDF file documenting the names, ID numbers, and ages of all the deceased.
Not Numbers is just one of the many Palestinian campaigns seeking to counter the widespread dehumanization of Palestinians in today’s media and politics. The group has been working for years to preserve the humanity of Palestinians and provide a platform where their stories can be heard.
In conclusion, the Not Numbers initiative is working tirelessly to give voice to Gazans killed by Israeli attacks. By highlighting their lives and personal stories, the group aims to humanize the victims, moving beyond a mere tally of casualties. Through this effort, they hope to challenge the dehumanizing portrayal of Palestinians in the media and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the conflict.
