Pro-Palestinian mountain climbers put up 'Stop the Genocide' banner in California’s Yosemite Valley

A protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza took place recently at Yosemite National Park, where a team of four climbers displayed a banner reading "STOP THE GENOCIDE" alongside the Palestinian flag colours on El Capitan's famous rock face.

The climbers positioned their 25-foot wide, 10-foot tall banner approximately halfway up the 3,000-foot Nose route between El Cap Tower ledge and Texas Flake.

They unfurled the banner at 7pm on Monday and left it up overnight, eventually rolling it up and rappelling down before noon on Tuesday.

The climbers—Miranda Oakley, Alix Morris, Alexa Flower, and Henry Whittaker—are members of "Climbers with Palestine," a grassroots group formed in December of the previous year following significant events in the Israel–Gaza conflict.

The conflict has resulted in over 37,000 Palestinian and 1,200 Israeli fatalities since its onset last year, with many more injured and displaced.

Initially focused on fundraising for humanitarian aid organisations like Doctors Without Borders and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Climbers with Palestine expanded their efforts to include high-profile actions such as the El Capitan banner protest.

Several slogans were considered for the banner, including "Free Palestine" and "Let Gaza Live," but they settled on "Stop the Genocide" for its clear and powerful message. Alix Morris explained the choice, emphasizing its straightforward call to end violence immediately.

Miranda Oakley, who is of Palestinian descent and a seasoned climbing guide, expressed her modest aim for the protest—to inspire action among others. While she identified herself as a climber rather than an activist, she urged people to take meaningful steps, whether through political engagement, consumer choices, or interpersonal dialogue, to address the ongoing crisis.

The conflict's impact on civilians in Gaza has stirred intense global debate, but Morris and her colleagues stressed the fundamental need to alleviate suffering and promote mutual support over division.

Climbers with Palestine did not inform the National Park Service beforehand but conducted thorough research on regulations and precedent, noting previous instances of banner displays on El Capitan.

Emily Meg Weinstein, another co-founder, underscored the protest's significance on such a prominent climbing stage, particularly as a Jewish participant supporting Palestinian friends and American allies. She highlighted climbing's role in fostering global community and urged more climbers to engage with humanitarian issues.

Climbers with Palestine also encouraged donations to the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, emphasising its critical role in providing medical and humanitarian aid to youth in the Middle East.