Palestine Is Freeing Us All Before Palestine Is Free; Comment on “The Rhetoric of Decolonizing Global Health Fails to Address the Reality of Settler Colonialism: Gaza as a Case in Point”

Document Type : Commentary

Author

Independent Researcher, Ottawa, ON, Canada

Abstract

This commentary piece on the editorial piece by Eivind Engebretsen and Mona Baker entitled “The Rhetoric of Decolonizing Global Health Fails to Address the Reality of Settler Colonialism: Gaza as a Case in Point” explores the interconnected contexts of settler colonialism affecting health in occupied Turtle Island (also known as Canada) to Palestine. Addressing true and authentic health equity work means sharpening our politics and rhetoric beyond decolonizing “global health” as epistemically colonial and towards meaningful solidarity work and framings of liberatory or revolutionary health. There is a moral obligation to contextualize and historicize, rather than depoliticize. This ultimately means supporting through unwavering solidarity for collective liberation through the Indigenous resistance and resurgence movements in Turtle Island to Palestine if we are serious about decolonizing global health. Moving towards rhetoric and actions for collective liberation must be the focused goal of all who care deeply about true and authentic health equity work towards just and life-affirming systems for health for all. 

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 30 June 2024
  • Revise Date: 18 December 2024
  • Accept Date: 01 January 2025
  • First Publish Date: 04 January 2025

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