In solidarity with Palestinians on Yawm al-Ard (يَوْم اَلْأَرْض) or Land Day, Ateneo 4 Palestine – Davao (A4P) demanded justice amid escalating global conflicts through an interfaith dialogue.
Against the backdrop of the US and Israel’s joint war on Palestine and Iran, the call was further emboldened when the Israeli parliament re-introduced death penalty targeting Palestinians exclusively, which Israel had previously abolished in 1954.
In light of these events, A4P members called for resurgence and collective action, emphasizing that the ongoing disputes in the Middle East or West Asia, particularly in Palestine and Iran, reflect an interconnected struggle affecting communities worldwide.
Handala Project Co-founder and half-Palestinian Lobna Abu-Hamiadan urged people to use their privilege to speak up in the face of these struggles.
“We must act collectively, because silence lets imperialists divide and conquer us. But unity from the Philippines to Palestine topples injustice,” Abu-Hamiadan asserted.
A4P – Davao Convenor Allena Sofia de Castro stressed how these attempts of neocolonial and imperialist subjugations continue to fuel humanitarian injustices, suffering, and economic slavery while repressing the rights to universal freedom.
“[We] commemorate ang March 30 as a day of resistance kasi hindi lamang sa Palestine nakikita ang sitwasyon na ito… This genocide is not an isolated atrocity, kundi, isa itong continuation of imperialist countries, of imperialist global warfare. Isa itong attack designed to erase a people and crush any form of resistance or crush any form of struggle,” de Castro said.
She added that horizontal violence has been occurring under Israel’s interests and defense industry, with the Philippine government employing various Israeli Elbit Systems-made weapons in military operations that target indigenous communities.
“Israeli arms, technology, and training ay umaabot na rin dito sa Southeast Asia. Umaabot na rin doon sa Iran, Iraq, West Africa, and North Africa. Even dito, lalong-lalo na sa island of Mindanao, umaabot na ang mga bomba … na ginagamit sa pambobomba sa mga Palestino; umaabot na rin dito sa mga Lumad and Moro communities.”
Anakbayan Southern Mindanao Region – Jacinto Spokesperson Owen Louie Sibonga also reminded that global oppression is a shared experience entitling nations to self-determination in the face of Western adventurism.
“Every oppressed nation on this earth has the right to fight for itself. Even Filipinos have the right to fight. Hundreds of thousands, millions of people across this planet have given the ultimate sacrifice so that their children can live free. We should honor them for that sacrifice.”
The Ateneo For Palestine Interfaith Dialogue was held on March 30, 2026, at the Gazebo grounds of Ateneo de Davao University.