How Gaza Defeated the World’s Most Powerful Army

When I saw tens of thousands of people walking barefoot on the dusty earth through a devastated city, I felt ashamed to write about any geopolitical gains or losses from the truce.

In that moment, I realized that merely staying alive in Gaza is, in itself, a victory.

To survive the genocide perpetrated by a murderous entity that bombs you with the most devastating weapons, while you are besieged in a tiny enclave with no refuge or escape—this is a standalone victory for two million besieged people.

To cling to life as a defenseless child, a powerless woman, or an unarmed man, in a land surrounded by sea and land, while bombs rain down on its people, with no one answering their pleas for help—this is, in itself, a miracle.

For a nation to cling to homes that have turned to dust, forcibly displaced once to the south, then for the fifth time to the north, with snipers shooting to prevent them from eating, drinking, and leaving them to die on the roads, yet still insisting on returning—this is a victory.

To remain alive in Gaza, to persist, to not die—this is an unparalleled victory in history.

To remain steadfast without weapons, without trenches, without protection, without allies, without a piece of bread, and yet still stand—this is a legendary triumph.

The entire world has witnessed the resistance of a people being annihilated, facing the world’s most powerful army, equipped with the deadliest weapons—a merciless army.

In a collective massacre where “friends” and “brothers” are mere spectators, where nations claiming to be civilized and neighbors who speak your language do not lift a finger, to fall to the ground but not surrender—this too is a victory.

In a land filled with vultures awaiting your death, and wolves and jackals stalking you with blood-stained claws, to escape with your wounds—this is a victory.

I could not bring myself to write about the clauses of the ceasefire agreement after seeing a mother and her child trying to return to a home that had become a pile of stones in Khan Younis.

I could not explain to her the geopolitical gains of the agreement while looking into her eyes.

I could not compare: “Did Israel gain from this agreement? Did Hamas lose?”

When a people, displaced for the fourth time from the south and the fifth time to the north, walk barefoot on roads that have become a desert… I lost the ability to write about the strengths and weaknesses of the agreement.

Because the determination of those walking under the scorching sun, their dust swept by the wind towards the sea, yet insisting on returning to the rubble of their homes—that in itself is a victory.

In the history of wars, the primary target of nations is the enemy’s will to resist. For any army, any nation that loses the will to fight is doomed to defeat.

Imagine a Palestinian who has lost his children, his relatives, whose city has been destroyed, whose home has been demolished, who has nothing left in this world, and yet his will to fight remains unbroken.

They killed his children with hunger, reducing them to skin and bone; he possesses not even a morsel, and yet he did not surrender, nor did he abandon the fight.

Perhaps the greatest thing that could have shattered the will to fight is the betrayal of friends. The nations he called “sisterly,” and the peoples he considered “friendly,” did not feed him bread nor extend a hand while he was dying of hunger.

And yet, his spirit did not waver; he did not retreat from the battle for survival.

And this, in itself, is a victory.

History has never witnessed a resistance like this.

History has never known a nation like this, which chose death with honor and refused to surrender to the world’s most powerful army, armed to the teeth with the most lethal tools of killing.

Therefore, to remain alive in Palestine is a victory.

When they stay alive, when they do not leave their land, when they cling with their own hands to that dry, dusty soil—they have, in reality, defeated the world’s most powerful army.

Forgive me, I will not write about the “gains and losses of political realism” in the ceasefire agreement.

Because survival in Gaza is a victory, and because this victory was achieved by the brave people of Palestine.

 

Support Dawat Media Center

If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Dawat Media Center from as little as $/€10 – it only takes a minute. If you can, please consider supporting us with a regular amount each month. Thank you
DNB Bank AC # 0530 2294668
Account for international payments: NO15 0530 2294 668
Vipps: #557320

  Donate Here