STOP THE GENOCIDE (2025)

Written By Ashley McDougal

A Short Film That Opens a Door

Stop the Genocide is a 2-minute 30-second experimental documentary short that uses found footage, stop-motion animation, and real-life testimonies to spotlight the genocide unfolding in Gaza. Created by Aaron Z. Willson, Saman Aminzadeh, and William Child, and produced by Lana Salfiti and Sam Murray. The film compresses unimaginable loss and resilience into just over two minutes. Its purpose is not to shock — but to awaken, and invite urgent dialogue online and off.

A Glitch in the Scroll

Even though the film is short, it trades a traditional documentary format for something more textured and immediate. Through layered animation, archival footage, and stop-motion, it creates something visually distinct in a feed full of noise. The quick cuts and bold visual style feel built for the internet, where anything longer than a minute risks being scrolled past.

The form is intentional. The animation gives space to breathe, to pause, to feel—while still pulsing with urgency. Testimonies aren’t buried; they’re amplified. Set against jolting cuts, they offer a moment of stillness, of silence, of listening. A chance to hear the voices of people enduring genocide. Survivors, speaking directly. And the style invites us not just to witness but to respond. It asks: How do we understand this? And what will we do now?

Stop the Genocide doesn’t just present facts or statistics layered over compelling visuals. It creates space to feel the weight of this violence, the impact of genocide, the consequences of Israel’s choices, and the cost of U.S. complicity. These are not abstract policies. They touch our brothers, sisters, cousins, families and people we may never know, but whose lives matter just the same.

What emerges is a kind of clarity. A quiet refusal to look away.
By posting the video, @kneecap32 creates a space online for a shared act of resistance, conscience, and strength.

“We have lived under occupation,” one voice says. “We didn’t choose solidarity—we’ve been surviving in it.”
Another reminds us: “Silence is death,” and “your voice is more important now than ever.”

These aren’t just quotes. They’re reminders.
This is happening now. And we are being asked to listen.
It’s a call to break the silence.

This Is About Humanity, Not Sides

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is not just a tragedy—it meets the legal and moral definition of genocide.

Under international law, genocide is defined by two elements:

  • Intention — which Israel has made clear.

    “We are laying a complete siege on Gaza.”
    — Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (2022–2024)

  • Action — which includes:

    • The destruction of Gaza’s health care system

    • The weaponization of humanitarian aid

    • The killing of 93,126 Palestinians, including 38.5% children and elders

    • The displacement of 1.9 million people

    • Over 127,397 injured, many critically

This is not “complex.” It is collective punishment. It is extermination.
Full stop. No debate. No both sides.

The International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel must take all possible steps to prevent genocide. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

These rulings matter. But international courts move slowly.
People don’t have that luxury.

That’s why your voice matters—because people can act faster than systems ever will.
And in this moment, silence is not neutrality. It’s complicity.

Solutions Over Death

Stop the Genocide connects viewers to stopthegenocide.info, a resource offering real ways to take action—whether that’s contacting representatives, joining protests, or starting necessary conversations with friends and family who still believe neutrality is an option.

This violence is not inevitable. People in power are making choices—and we can challenge those choices. We can offer solutions instead of normalizing mass violence.

The film and website provide language for those unsure of what to say, and tools for people who want to help but don’t know where to start.

Here are three clear actions you can take:

🛑 1. Demand an Arms Embargo

Israel’s military campaign depends on weapons and funding from the U.S., U.K., and Germany. Cutting off this support can save lives and push governments to comply with international law.

Take action:

✂️ 2. Support the BDS Movement

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement puts economic pressure on corporations and governments complicit in apartheid and genocide. It’s peaceful, growing, and rooted in historical precedent.

Start here:

🕊️ 3. Stand for Liberation

A ceasefire is necessary, but it’s only a first step. Justice means freedom, dignity, and full human rights for Palestinians. That means shifting from crisis-response to long-term solidarity.

Use your platform to:

  • Challenge narratives that paint genocide as “complicated”

  • Share and support Palestinian voices and grassroots organizers

  • Stay involved beyond trending moments

A Future Built on Dignity

There are no perfect words for this moment. But there are powerful choices. And change happens when enough of us insist on it—together.

Every voice matters. Every action counts.
Your voice, your actions, matter.

Start with one small step. Share. Speak up. Refuse to accept the normalization of death by genocide—whether it’s coming from our leaders, or from people in our communities too afraid or too comfortable to resist.

This isn’t about taking sides.
It’s about taking responsibility.
It’s about choosing justice, humanity, and life.

To learn more, take action, and find resources: stopthegenocide.info

Ashley McDougal
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