في قلبي. هناك ألمٌ شديد الآن، كل يوم منذ شهور. أنا آتٍ من إسرائيل وأعيش هناك. أحبها. إنها موطني. لكن ما يحدث الآن فظيع ومروّع. أعرف. أعرف أن الكثيرين. لا بأس. يمكنك المغادرة إذا لم ترد. السياسة. السياسة جزء من الحياة. كل يوم. كل يوم. أعرف. أعرف أن الكثير منا يشعرون بالعجز التام أمام هؤلاء الفلسطينيين الأبرياء الذين يُقتلون بالآلاف ويُشردون مرارًا وتكرارًا، دون مستشفيات، دون مدارس، ولا يعرفون موعد وجبتهم القادمة. الرهائن الإسرائيليون محتجزون في ظروف لا إنسانية منذ عامين. لمدة عامين، والسجناء السياسيون يعانون في السجون الإسرائيلية. إسرائيليون ويهود وفلسطينيون. إسرائيليون ويهود وفلسطينيون. ستسمح لي بالإنهاء ثم يمكنك أن تلعنني طوال حياتك. لا مشكلة. لا مشكلة. إسرائيليون ويهود وفلسطينيون. لا نستطيع إيقاف هذا وحدنا. أطلب منكم، أتوسل إليكم جميعًا. أن تفعلوا كل ما في وسعكم لإيقاف هذا الجنون. كل عمل صغير له أهمية. بينما تتردد الحكومات وتنتظر، لا يمكننا السماح باستمرار هذا أكثر. كل لحظة تمر تعرض سلامة الملايين للخطر. شكرًا لك. شكرًا لك.
Key Points
- Volkov, an Israeli conductor, states he can no longer remain silent about what he describes as an "atrocious and horrific" situation in Gaza.
- He documents the humanitarian crisis: thousands of Palestinians killed, repeated displacement, absence of hospitals and schools, and food insecurity.
- Volkov acknowledges multiple dimensions of suffering: Palestinian civilians affected by military operations, Israeli hostages held in inhumane conditions, and political prisoners—both Israeli and Palestinian—languishing in jails.
- He argues that political expression is integral to daily life and that artistic platforms should not be exempt from moral testimony.
- Volkov calls on individuals, not just governments, to take action to stop the conflict, asserting that every action and moment matters.
- He frames the crisis as a collective responsibility affecting the safety of millions, requiring intervention from people across communities.
Article
English
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Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov speaks out against Israel's military operations in Gaza during a London performance, describing the humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinians and calling on audiences to take action to end the conflict.
Summary
In an emotional address at a London performance, Israeli conductor Ilan Volkov expresses his personal anguish over events in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Speaking from his perspective as an Israeli and resident of Israel, Volkov describes the humanitarian situation facing Palestinians—including mass casualties, repeated displacement, lack of hospitals and schools, and food insecurity—while also acknowledging the detention of Israeli hostages in inhumane conditions and Palestinian and Israeli political prisoners in Israeli jails. He frames the situation as a collective crisis requiring urgent intervention beyond government action. Volkov calls on audience members and people globally to take whatever action is within their power to stop what he characterises as "madness," emphasising that every moment of delay increases risk to millions of people. The address reflects both his personal moral conviction and his view that political expression is inseparable from everyday life and artistic platforms.
Key takeaways
- Volkov, an Israeli conductor, states he can no longer remain silent about what he describes as an "atrocious and horrific" situation in Gaza.
- He documents the humanitarian crisis: thousands of Palestinians killed, repeated displacement, absence of hospitals and schools, and food insecurity.
- Volkov acknowledges multiple dimensions of suffering: Palestinian civilians affected by military operations, Israeli hostages held in inhumane conditions, and political prisoners—both Israeli and Palestinian—languishing in jails.
- He argues that political expression is integral to daily life and that artistic platforms should not be exempt from moral testimony.
- Volkov calls on individuals, not just governments, to take action to stop the conflict, asserting that every action and moment matters.
- He frames the crisis as a collective responsibility affecting the safety of millions, requiring intervention from people across communities.
Full article
A Personal Plea from an Israeli Conductor
I carry great pain in my heart now, every day for months. I come from Israel and live there. I love it. It's my home. But what's happening now is atrocious and horrific. I know that many of you may feel politics should not be part of this, but politics is part of life, every day. I understand if some of you do not wish to hear this and choose to leave.
The Humanitarian Crisis
I know that many of us feel completely hopeless in front of the situation. Innocent Palestinians are being killed in thousands, displaced again and again, without hospitals, without schools, not knowing when their next meal will come. At the same time, Israeli hostages are kept in inhumane conditions for two years. Political prisoners—both Israeli Jews and Palestinians—are languishing in Israeli jails.
A Call to Action
Israelis, Jews, and Palestinians—we are not able to stop this alone. I ask you, I beg you all to do whatever is in your power to stop this madness. Every little action counts. While governments hesitate and wait, we cannot let this go on any longer. Every moment that passes puts the safety of millions at risk.
Topics#Gaza conflict and humanitarian crisis#Israeli-Palestinian relations#Displacement and civilian casualties#Hostages and political prisoners#Arts and activism#Moral testimony and conscience#Calls for international action