What is home: it is the shade of trees on my way to school before they were uprooted. It is my grandparents’ black-and-white wedding photo before the walls crumbled. It is my uncle’s prayer rug, where dozens of ants slept on wintry nights, before it was looted and put in a museum. It is the oven my mother used to bake bread and roast chicken before a bomb reduced our house to ashes. – Mosab Abu Toha
When actions are strangled, words speak and when words are arrested, poetry bleeds. The Palestinian writers have shown the agony of their people and their resilience through their marvellous work and their poetry has upped the ante of resilience and patriotism amid genocides.
The conflict of Palestine- Israel has its roots in the late 19th century, primarily with the rise of political Zionism and the arrival of Jewish settlers in Palestine. With the rise in the conflicts, the literature emerged as a tool to show the agony and resilience of Palestine.
Amidst these conflicts that started in the 19th century, many poets penned down the stories about the palestinians diaspora and their struggles.
Edward Said, Mahmoud Darwish, Samih-Al-Qasim, Mourid Barghouti, Fadwa Tuqan, Rafeef Ziadah, are a few of them who have penned the wounds of Palestine.
“We Teach Life, Sir.” – Rafeef Ziadah
One of the famous palestinian poems is “We Teach Life, Sir” by Rafeef Ziadha. The poem flourished as a powerful response to the ongoing Palestinian struggle and media’s portrayal of this conflict. The work was penned down during one of Israel’ military operations in Gaza. The poem revolves around the question posed by a journalist who asked Ziadah, “Don’t you think it would be all fine if you just stopped teaching your children to hate?” The question compelled Ziadah to articulate a passionate defence of Palestinian identity and resilience through her poetry.
I look inside of me for strength to be patient but patience is not at the tip of my tongue as the bombs drop over Gaza.
We Palestinians teach life after they have occupied the last sky. We teach life after they have built their settlements and apartheid walls, after the last skies. We teach life, sir!
We teach life, sir, was jotted down in a chilling atmosphere where Palestinins were facing intense misrepresentation in the media. Ziadah, then media spokesperson, utilised her platform and narrated. The poem talks about how Palestinians teach life, resilience and the value of existence, despite the onslaught they face.
Indian Muslims Arrest for Palestine WhatsApp Dp
However, with the escalation of genocide in Gaza, there still has also been a noticeable increase in the incidents where pro palestinian views have faced severe consequences. In the Indian context, the pro palestinians have faced a significant backlash and crackdowns from the Hindu Nationalist.
Earlier in the year 2023, Indian authorities had barred any solidarity protest in Muslim majority Kashmir and as reported by the Associated Press, the authorities asked the Muslim preachers not to mention the conflicts in sermons.
In yet another case, less than a week after the Israel attack began, police in Hamirpur were reportedly looking for Muslim scholars Atif Chaudhary and Suhail Ansari. Their only crime was to have put a whatsApp display photo reading, “I Stand With Palestine”
In another case, four students were booked after they took out palestinian march after October 7, 2023. Meanwhile, the Hindu far-right group Bajrang Dal reportedly took out a pro-Israel march in the same Aligarh city, chanting slogans such as “Down with Palestine, Down with Hamas”, but no actions were taken against them.
In the national capital, New Delhi, there have been several cases where people were detained during rallies organised by people.
“Enough for Me” – Fadwa Tuqan
Enough for me to die on her earth be buried in her to melt and vanish into her soil then sprout forth as a flower played with by a child from my country. Enough for me to remain in my country’s embrace to be in her close as a handful of dust a sprig of grass a flower.
Written in the times of conflicts “Enough for me” chronicles the suffering of the Palestinians. The poem highlights the profound love and their bond with their land. “Enough for me” talks about the times when Palestinian are displaced from their homeland and a sense of longing for their soil engulfs them.
About 90% of people in Gaza displaced since war began, says UN agency
The Israel- Palestine struggle over a tiny yet historical land has escalated from October 7 and has claimed lives and displacements.
As reported by the UN agency, About 90% of people in Gaza have been displaced since war began.
Do not Step on my Feet Again- Basman Aldirawi
Under the constant buzzing of drones, The roar of F-16s over my head While I play hide and seek With peace, Whispering, Don’t be just a break In between assaults,
The electricity goes off, Total darkness. While I dance with hope, Whispering, Don’t step on my Feet again.
Don’t step on My Feet Again by Basman Aldirawi, talks about the Self- Assertion and Emotional Impact of the war. The repeated refrain of not wanting others to “step on my feet” serves as a metaphor for the need to protect oneself from emotional or physical harm caused by others’ actions.
Israel attack on West Gaza
According to the latest data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the Palestinian government as of September 8, Israeli attacks have damaged:
More than half of Gaza’s homes (damaged or destroyed) 80 percent of commercial facilities 85 percent of school buildings Healthcare facilities so 17 of 36 hospitals are partially functional 65 percent of road networks 65 percent of cropland
Journalists killed
As reported by Al Jazirah , as of July 31, more than 125 journalists, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, at least 120 Palestinian, three Lebanese and two Israeli journalists have been killed.
Free Palestine, Stop the Genocide
Amid the heinous genocide in Gaza, from the rubbles of their homes and ashes of their loved ones, palestinians radiates hopes and light that captivates the hearts of the people across the world.
Palestinian girl reads the Quran on the beach of Gaza
The faith and resilience of the Gaza people have won hearts of the world. In an ‘open air prison’, concentration camps, starvations, and brutal killing of thousands of innocent civilians, they hold a faith that is unshakable.
Palestinian girl reads the Quran on the beach of Gaza
Using words has been one of the ways of Palestinians to provide solace and win the war. There have been many incidents where Palestinians were filmed reciting the Quran in front of dead bodies, at the time of open fire and other heinous acts.
