If there ever was a year in recent history that was truly unforgettable, 2020 is it. In Palestine, COVID-19 did not stop the occupation, and in many cases exacerbated the devastating effects of 53 years under Israeli military rule. On top of the pandemic, we witnessed major shifts in global politics with widespread regional normalization, and the defeat of US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, global movements for justice like Black Lives Matter, and the fight for justice in Palestine continued to transcend borders, thrusting marginalized voices into the mainstream in ways that were once unimaginable.

Michael Arria interviews Sumaya Awad and brian bean, editors of the new book Palestine: A Socialist Introduction: “The Palestine movement doesn’t exist in isolation, so we need to stand up for it and integrate it into into our organizing for any system change to be possible in the U.S.”

Jen Marlowe’s new film “There is a Field” tells the story about how the killing of a Palestinian teenager has served as a starting point to promote Black-Palestinian solidarity.

A small town theater company’s presentation in New York of “My Name Is Rachel Corrie,” 17 years after her death, shows the impact her writings continue to have. As four young women voice her idealism.

The Trumps and Netanyahus think they can use anarchy as a specter to vilify uprisings, but Adi Callai writes: “The more they use the term ‘anarchists’ to disparage a mass movement, the higher we can raise our voices and offer an alternative.”

Images of protesters being violently detained have been frighteningly similar not only across the US, but are also a daily occurrence in Palestine. Is there a connection? Yes, there certainly is.

The confluence of George Floyd’s murder with the coronavirus pandemic has made it possible for Black Lives Matter’s abolitionist message to be adopted by millions. This message is increasingly including Palestine.

“The Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice is intertwined with global justice struggles of other oppressed communities. The COVID-19 crisis demonstrates these intersections and provides an opportunity for global mobilisation in support of racial, Indigenous, social, economic, gender and climate justice” – Apoorva PG, South Asia Coordinator for the BDS National Committee

Ishmael Khaldi’s success as an Israel diplomat, as well as his experience as a Palestinian of abuse at the hands of the security services, exemplifies Israel’s hybrid version of apartheid.

George Floyd’s death and the violence that Palestinians who live under Israeli occupation face both reflect the oppression of racist, unjust societies.