The history of the Palestinian struggle for liberation is signposted by many moments of poignant betrayal, often at the hands of our very own. The Madrid Conference, Camp David, Oslo—each marks a pivotal moment where Zionism succeeded in coordinating with the PLO and other Arab governments to double down on crushing the Palestinian spirit. Done by a strategy of pacification that appeals to the fragility of those in power that choose greed over dignity.
For our generation, the inheritance of this history is twofold. On one hand, we carry the legacy of steadfastness—sumud—the essence of the Palestinian spirit passed down from one generation to the next. On the other, we grapple with an internalized defeatism, absorbed over decades of thwarted liberation efforts. Our parents' generation stood on the cusp of transformative change, glimpsing light at the end of the tunnel, only to watch it collapse under the weight of Western imperialism and the complicity of obedient monarchs. When every effort of liberation is met with betrayal or suppression, the collective body succumbs to helplessness. Not out of weakness, but as a means of protecting itself from the unbearable pain of betrayal and oppression.
Still, the desire for liberation was never extinguished. It cracks through us like sunlight breaking through heavy clouds, illuminating what was thought lost and warming even the coldest, most guarded corners of our collective spirit. Yet the capacity to meet that desire has, until now, felt limited—that is, until October 7th.
From Helplessness to Mobilization
Our helplessness is not an inherent weakness but an adaptation to adversity.