By Majd Othman

KUWAIT: Social media activists in Kuwait recently initiated a hashtag campaign in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are facing water shortages imposed as a collective punishment by the Zionist entity. This punitive action is a response to the resistance efforts led by Hamas in defense of Palestinian land rights. The hashtag, “Water in exchange for oil,” was launched in direct response to the policy of the Zionist entity, which has cut off essential resources like water, food, aid and gas to the Gaza Strip.

The campaign gained momentum with the sharing of past GCC statements, particularly those from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, dated from Oct 15, 1973. During this time, members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC), consisting of Arab OPEC members as well as Egypt and Syria, initiated an oil embargo to pressure Western countries into compelling the Zionist entity to withdraw from the Arab territories occupied during the 1967 war.

One Twitter user, Aisha, remarked on the hashtag campaign, stating: “In the absence of armies, oil is our only weapon.” Many social media users agreed with her perspective, underscoring its importance in defending the Palestinian people. Another user, Maram, shared a picture of the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and his Crown Prince, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

This image highlighted their honorable stance in support of the Arab lands occupied during the 1967 war, when an official decision was declared to cut oil exports to countries that supported the Zionist entity. “We did it before, and we can do it again,” Maram wrote. The hashtag gained traction and generated significant interaction on various social media platforms.

One citizen emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that cutting off water and electricity, blocking access to medicines and supplies, and targeting civilians and hospitals are all exceptional crimes against an entire population. He stressed the need for an extraordinary response, making it clear that supporting the hashtag’s claim is a worthy idea.