Watch: Malcolm X’s historic speech on Palestine issue

Malcolm X, will always be remembered for the quote: “By any means necessary.” In the 1950s, Malcolm X was among the first Black activists to speak out for the Palestinians and against Israel.

Malcolm X went to Gaza and visited Palestinian refugee camps months before his assassination in 1965. It helped set the stage in the U.S. for Black Power activists to spark a major flashpoint more than two years later.

In his 1964 speech, Malcolm X stressed the significance of acknowledging and advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. Malcolm X challenged the prevailing narrative of the conflict, which often portrayed Israel as the victim and the Palestinians as the aggressors. He argued that the conflict was rooted in colonialism and that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories was a major obstacle to peace.