Iyah May, 26/07/26


Background:
Gaza Strip and West Bank are occupied regions by Israel with isolated cities and towns that are fulfilling the definition of concentration camps.
In Gaza’s heart, where hopes aspire,
Occupied lands, where dreams catch fire.
A tale of struggle, a story to unveil,
In West Bank’s echoes, an urgent tale.
Isolated towns, where courage stands,
Concentration camps on distant sands.
Resources scant, a plea for light,
Humiliation’s darkness, we must fight.
Palestinian spirits, resilience strong,
In the crucible of pain, they belong.
Beaten, tortured, under a cold moon,
At checkpoints, their courage is a tune.
Illegal settlers, shadows on the stage,
IOF’s gaze, a world engages.
Through injustice’s storm, a common goal,
For Palestinian souls, a shared soul.
Homes invaded, dreams cast aside,
Confiscation’s toll, a world can’t hide.
Demolished by forces, a stark truth unfolds,
IOF’s hammer, where compassion molds.
Farms ablaze, olive trees in pain,
Shops in ruins, echoes of disdain.
Illegal settlers, a challenge to erase,
Protected by silence, a shared disgrace.
Perpetrators lurking, shadows of despair,
Apartheid’s dance, a burden to bear.
Two laws entwined, we must redefine,
One for justice, a shared design.
In the face of wrongs, a united roar,
Speak against silence, let empathy soar.
No to apartheid, let compassion explore,
In the ballad of justice, let Western hearts implore.
Mahmoud Darwish
I come from there and I have memories
Born as mortals are, I have a mother
And a house with many windows,
I have brothers, friends,
And a prison cell with a cold window.
Mine is the wave, snatched by sea-gulls,
I have my own view,
And an extra blade of grass.
Mine is the moon at the far edge of the words,
And the bounty of birds,
And the immortal olive tree.
I walked this land before the swords
Turned its living body into a laden table.
I come from there. I render the sky unto her mother
When the sky weeps for her mother.
And I weep to make myself known
To a returning cloud.
I learnt all the words worthy of the court of blood
So that I could break the rule.
I learnt all the words and broke them up
To make a single word: Homeland.....
Unacceptable Backing for Genocide in Palestine
Palestinian civil society vehemently condemns, in the strongest terms, the actions of many western governments for their disgraceful and unwavering support that has not only enabled but emboldened Israel’s relentless aggression against the Palestinian people. This support represents a reprehensible complicity in the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, along with the persistent violations of international law perpetrated by Israel.
The unrelenting campaign of collective punishment, genocide, and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel, fueled by this support, leaves a stain on the conscience of these governments. The human suffering, particularly that of innocent children and women who bear the brunt of this aggression, is of immeasurable magnitude and demands immediate acknowledgment and repair.
These governments must confront the moral bankruptcy of their policies and bear the weight of shame for their active involvement in war crimes. Refusal to take up this responsibility directly contributes to the suffering of the Palestinian people and grants Israel total impunity, while undermining accountability to international law.
Just three days ago, a hospital in Gaza, a sanctuary of healing, was ruthlessly bombed, with innocent people seeking refuge within its walls. The world watched in horror as these places of safety became targets of destruction.
The prolonged silence and passivity of the international community amount to a colossal global moral failure. How long will the world continue to ignore this suffering and remain passive in the face of such immense human tragedy?
This all being put into context; Palestinian civil society demands the governments in question to take the following actions:

Background:
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman leaves a shameful legacy of dehumanising most vulnerable people in her ten month reign of cruelty.
Cruella’s words, sharp and cold,
Homelessness dismissed, a story told.
Promises for tomorrow, drowned in sorrow,
Pro-Palestinian cries, scorned tomorrow.
Police accused, bias in the air,
Ceasefire pleas met with a glare.
Dehumanizing tales unfold,
Refugees and migrants, a legacy cold.