Alfredo Abugattas
Former United Nations Employee
Luis Abugattas Majluf (Alfredo) is a third-generation Palestinian, currently living in Peru. Despite his diaspora, being Palestinian is a core part of his identity, and has been for his entire life. Not only does his heritage and familial commitment to maintaining the Palestinian identity make him knowledgeable, but Alfredo has also worked for the United Nations in a few different roles. Additionally, he has lived in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jordan, meaning his knowledge of Palestine and opinions on the major obstacles to Palestinian Liberation extend far past the theoretical. All this to say, Alfredo is incredibly passionate and informed about Palestine and he was an absolute joy to interview.
Life under occupation
In the video below, Alfredo introduces himself and discusses his time living in Palestine. He compares life in Gaza and life in the West Bank, emphasizing that to be Palestinian in Palestine is to be treated like cattle, with no freedom of movement. Additionally, he discusses the theft of his family’s land and the failure of the Israeli legal system to do anything about it.
Alfredo: The United States is to Blame
In the following video, Alfredo discusses the myriad of ways that the United States is responsible for Israel’s ongoing occupation of and apartheid system in Palestine.
A Message to US citizens, Discussing South African Apartheid, and why Zionism is racism
Alfredo gives a message to all US citizens who are afraid to “take a side.” He also discusses the parallels between South African Apartheid and Israeli Apartheid, emphasizing the BDS movement as an important form of global protest. He then explains why Zionism, as it exists today, is a form of racism.
What this conflict is really about and life in Jordan
Here, Alfredo responds to the propaganda that claims that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is about religion. He uses his personal family experience and objective facts to prove his point. He discusses the sad reality that his father, a Christian Palestinian, was never able to return to his homelands while acknowledging that many Christian Palestinians have been able to escape Israeli occupation by fleeing to the diaspora, something many Muslim Palestinians have been unable to do. He also discusses life in Jordan as a Palestinian and the politics of the Palestinian-Jordanian population.
Shifting Global opinions
This video begins with a discussion of Alfredo’s personal life: the ways that his non-Arab friends have become more interested and outraged since Israel’s 2023-2024 genocide in Gaza began. This then becomes a discussion of the ways that a plethora of Latin American countries have come out even more strongly against Israel and how the general public has opened their eyes to the realities of Israeli occupation.