As the devastating conflict in Gaza stretches past 200 days, the suffering endured by the Palestinian people continues to deepen. The destruction of both the land and its inhabitants in the besieged Strip is reminiscent of the Nakba of 1948. Famine and malnutrition have taken hold, leaving families in desperate need of food and medical assistance as they flee the relentless bombings that have persisted since October.
The losses we have experienced over the last seven months are immeasurable, encompassing not just homes and livelihoods, but the hopes and dreams of entire generations. With Israeli forces hinting at an imminent invasion of Rafah, a city now housing the majority of Gaza’s population, the prospect of further suffering looms large.
However, amidst this dire situation, the world’s gaze is shifting elsewhere. The international community appears to be growing increasingly indifferent to our plight. It is disheartening to witness how our identity has condemned us to disproportionate suffering, with our humanity often disregarded by those beyond our borders.
Palestinians at the site of a mosque destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, near the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, April 26, 2024. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)
As a journalist and writer from Gaza, I have witnessed firsthand the unfolding tragedies of this war. Through my reporting and interviews with Gaza residents, I have seen the profound impact of this prolonged conflict on my people. After seven months of bloodshed and despair, our struggle for freedom and an end to this carnage is often mischaracterized in Western media as “support for terror.” Our voices are silenced, while Israeli leaders justify their assaults in the name of “security.”
For Palestinian journalists like myself, covering the war in Gaza is not just a job; it is a national duty in the face of overwhelming adversity. Despite the immense trauma and suffering, continuing our work is a challenge. Many journalists, including myself, struggle to escape Gaza and ensure their survival. But if we do not document the harsh reality of Israel’s aggression, who will?
The mainstream media often fails to advocate for our cause. Their version of “neutrality” only serves to amplify the oppressors’ narrative while disregarding the oppressed. Neutrality, in this context, means siding with the powerful while justifying the killings of the vulnerable under the guise of “self-defense.”
Students protest at a pro-Palestine encampment at Wake Forest University, North Carolina, United States, April 30, 2024. (Heather Sharona Weiss/Activestills)
Despite the ongoing crisis and the world’s indifference, we hold onto hope for justice. We seek acknowledgment of our humanity and the right to live freely and equally. True solidarity demands justice for all, without prioritizing one group’s rights over another’s. It is crucial that the world pays genuine attention to our suffering and puts an end to the bloodshed.
We do not need more empty promises; we need tangible action. Grassroots movements worldwide, along with bold policymakers, must confront the reality of Palestine’s plight and hold Israel accountable for its atrocities. The oppression we face has persisted for 75 years, infringing upon our basic rights to safety and freedom since the Nakba.
Now is the time for a global movement that continues until Palestinians are liberated from both the war in Gaza and the occupation across historic Palestine. The student-led encampments in the U.S. stand as a beacon of hope, transcending borders and calling for human rights for all.
We envision a just world, and these brave students offer a glimpse of that future. But they need support and amplification from decision-makers and media outlets. The struggle for Palestine is not merely about reclaiming what was lost; it is about securing the existence of our people in our ancestral land.