A reminder
By Haneen Hassaan
It’s fair to say that the most recent turn of events in Gaza took us all by surprise; no one was expecting a ceasefire right now, let alone an end to the war entirely. Although it’s not clear yet where this is going or if this peace plan will really benefit the Palestinians, some are celebrating this development, I thought I’d be one of the people celebrating when the day comes, but what I’m feeling right now is not happiness or relief, and I hate to be a killjoy but I want to remind you that:
October 7th wasn’t the beginning of this conflict; it was merely a reaction to Israel’s actions, it was a reaction to the Nakba, a reaction to the killings, the abductions, the torture, the arrests, it was the result of years of suffering in silence. And although I believe it was an expected reaction, I still thought what happened on October 7th was devastating, just as I thought all the events that followed were devastating.
I want to remind you that none of the genocide survivors will ever be the same again, not just psychologically, but also physically. They have lived through circumstances none of us could ever imagine, even the children experienced things in those last two years that some might never experience a fraction of in their entire lifetime. Not to mention how the starvation has affected them and will continue to do so in most cases, despite medical care.
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I want you to remember that this is not the first or last time a conflict over land will occur, strong countries will do anything to stay in power, and unfortunately, that means expanding and dominating weaker countries. We’ve seen it recently, clearer than ever, the land disputes and what they might result in if one of the parties involved is stronger than the other and is not afraid to use that strength to its advantage. And although the conflict in Palestine runs deep, whether it’s because of the religious aspect of it or simply because of the political entities involved, it’s still largely a fight over land.
I want you to remember that imperialism didn’t die with the 20th century; it just reinvented itself. It’s an ideology that’s been completely integrated into and applied in global politics for the longest time, and it will take more time than this to uproot such a system. I want you to remember that those who own the land are the ones most hesitant to harm it, those who feel for it and refuse to leave it behind. I want you to remember that this conflict goes beyond Israel and Palestine; it concerns all of us, even if you live across the globe.
I want you to remember that getting rid of your empathy will not make you more reasonable or a better leader, no matter your political stance you should always view a human life for what it is, we are all born equally human, a baby born in Gaza is no less human than a baby born a few kilometers to the east or the west, it’s the choices you make later on in your life that either reinforce that humanness or strip it away from you.
Remember that even if we have nothing in common but the fact that we are of the same generation, we have to make sure not to make the same mistakes the previous generations did, and we have to make sure the future is good for all of us, not just for certain groups. Remember to protect your mind, read and educate yourself, and always stay in touch with the world around you. One day, the responsibility of stopping all injustice will fall on us, and we need to remember in order to make the right choice.
Sources:
● https://al-shabaka.org/briefs/the-systematic-torture-of-palestinians-in-israeli-detention/
