Breaking The Chains: Gaza’s Quest For Liberation
October 7th, 2023 - Palestinian Fighters flying over the separation wall in the Gaza Strip
** This piece was written mere hours after Hamas Fighters broke out of Gaza. These words act as an archive to the reaction and the brief jubliation Palestinians felt to the prospect that Gaza may have freed itself**
A journal entry like no other. What an odd day it has been. I write today to weave together the threads of truth, to craft for my fellow friends and readers the profound significance of today. The heroic and unyielding actions that unfurled on that Saturday morning against the Zionist regime have sent shockwaves across the globe, leaving all parties involved in this 'conflict' between occupier and occupied both astounded and bewildered.
How did a captive population manage to break free from the world's most heavily surveilled prison? How did a historically oppressed people, often forced to craft their own weapons from recycled ammunition, challenge the all-powerful and technologically sophisticated Israel? Such questioning may appear dishonorable and unjust to the indomitable spirit of the resistance movement. Yet, in hindsight, can we blame anyone for raising these questions when, for decades, we were fed a narrative that portrayed Israel as an invincible force, impervious to all challenges, ruthlessly seizing Palestinian land?
The past 48 hours are historic and will be studied and referenced in the years to come. But, as of now, the foremost lesson we can draw is that liberation is within reach. If the 2006 Lebanese-Israeli war punctuated the illusion of Israel's invincibility, Hamas's operation, aptly named the 'Al-Aqsa Floods,' is an omen of the impending decline of the Zionist regime. Those who have thrived on the persecution of the Indigenous population of Palestine will soon be held accountable for the decades of displacement and subjugation.
The reclamation of Palestinian lands by Hamas, and the resounding support it garnered among Palestinians and allies worldwide, signifies that our cause has transcended mere leaderless capitulation. Regardless of who is fighting, Palestinians on the ground have shown little regard for the history and ideology of their fighters, aligning themselves instead with any force willing to confront and pressure the occupier and its allies, with the aim of demanding the recognition of Palestinian humanity, dignity, and respect—something they've been denied since British Occupation began in 1917.
September 2nd, 2023 - Palestinians demonstrate along Israel's barrier imprisoning the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza City, Occupied Gaza Strip.. Photos: @m.z.gaza /Activestills
To those who may question the ethical boundaries of aligning with a political faction that is divisive, I say this: Your notions of decolonization are veiled in aesthetics, concealed behind a 'liberal' facade that seeks to buy time for colonialists to reform their interior while preserving the very foundations built upon the displacement and subjugation of the Palestinian people. In the case of Israel, the time gained by its apartheid apologists is used to suppress anyone seeking justice for Palestinians. Decolonization is a process that unfolds when the subjugator, the oppressor, the colonialist trembles in the face of their adversary's yearning for freedom. It is a painful and non-linear journey, requiring a non-hierarchical front in both gender and class. Decolonization demands a piece of your heart, necessitating that everyone involved risks everything and everyone they've ever loved, all in pursuit of ensuring that every individual, regardless of creed or ethnicity, is treated with justice and equality.
I have spoken to Palestinians from every corner of the world in an effort to understand where Palestinian consciousness stands in relation to Hamas's operations in the occupied territories. They all shared similar sentiments, finding the events of the past 48 hours profoundly astonishing, as none had imagined such developments possible. Their spirits were high, and they were eager to witness how the situation would unfold. The prevailing sentiment I gleaned from these conversations was that all anticipated Israel's response to be extreme, surpassing anything seen before. Many believed that a land invasion is imminent and were genuinely convinced by Netanyahu and his generals' promise to turn Gaza into a 'deserted Island.' When I asked if they were fearful of such threats, all but one of the eight Palestinians I spoke with shared a common understanding: it is better to die with honor in the pursuit of freedom than to die without it. Reflecting on this, as a Palestinian raised among Palestinians, we often intertwine our concepts of freedom and honor. For many, whatever Israel chooses to do is still preferable to surrendering in helplessness. As my father asserts, 'the resistance achieved victory the moment it breached the wall that separated Gazans from their ancestral lands’.
October 7th, 2023 - Palestinians examining th ruins of a 14-story residential tower in Gaza City, Occupied Gaza Strip. Photos: @m.z.gaza /Activestills
For Palestinians, October 7th signifies that the system meticulously constructed around occupation, humiliation, and subjugation is beginning to crumble. My vision for the future of my people is a life overflowing with liberty and freedom on their ancestral lands, in a nation that champions democracy and upholds its laws to safeguard the presence of Muslim, Christians, Jewish, and Druze alike. However, at this very moment, my unwavering focus is on wholeheartedly supporting my people's steadfast resistance against Israeli occupation and colonization. May Allah have mercy on all those martyred and provide solace to those immediately affected by the loss of life.
Further Reading on Gaza, Hamas and Israeli Occupation:
Hamas Contained: The Rise and Pacification of Palestinian Resistance - Tareq Baconi
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017 - Rashid Khalidi
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine - Ilan Pappe