The Ceasefire Charade

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Admin

Chris Hedges, 15/01/25

Source

Israel, going back decades, has played a duplicitous game. It signs a deal with the Palestinians that is to be implemented in phases. The first phase gives Israel what it wants — in this case the release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza — but Israel habitually fails to implement subsequent phases that would lead to a just and equitable peace. It eventually provokes the Palestinians with indiscriminate armed assaults to retaliate, defines a Palestinian response as a provocation and abrogates the ceasefire deal to reignite the slaughter.

If this latest three-phase ceasefire deal is ratified — and there is no certainty that it will be by Israel — it will, I expect, be little more than a presidential inauguration bombing pause. Israel has no intention of halting its merry-go-round of death.

The Israeli cabinet has delayed a vote on the ceasefire proposal while it continues to pound Gaza. At least 81 Palestinians have been killed in the last 24 hours.

The morning after a ceasefire agreement was announced, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of reneging on part of the deal “in an effort to extort last minute concessions.” He warned that his cabinet will not meet “until the mediators notify Israel that Hamas has accepted all elements of the agreement.”

Hamas dismissed Netanyahu’s claims and repeated their commitment to the ceasefire as agreed with the mediators.

The deal includes three phases. The first phase, lasting 42 days, will see a cessation of hostilities. Hamas will release some Israeli hostages – 33 Israelis who were captured on Oct. 7, 2023, including all of the remaining five women, those aged above 50, and those with illnesses – in exchange for up to 1,000 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The Israeli army will pull back from the populated areas of the Gaza Strip on the first day of the ceasefire. On the 7th day, displaced Palestinians will be permitted to return to northern Gaza. Israel will allow 600 aid trucks with food and medical supplies to enter Gaza daily.

The second phase, which begins on the 16th day of the ceasefire, will see the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. Israel will complete its withdrawal from Gaza during the second phase, maintaining a presence in some parts of the Philadelphi corridor, which stretches along the eight-mile border between Gaza and Egypt. It will surrender its control of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.

The third phase will see negotiations for a permanent end of the war.

But it is Netanyahu’s office that appears to have already reneged on the agreement. It released a statement rejecting Israeli troop withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor during the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire. “In practical terms, Israel will remain in the Philadelphi Corridor until further notice,” while claiming the Palestinians are attempting to violate the agreement. Palestinians throughout the numerous ceasefire negotiations have demanded Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. Egypt has condemned the seizure of its border crossings by Israel.

The deep fissures between Israel and Hamas, even if the Israelis finally accept the agreement, threaten to implode it. Hamas is seeking a permanent ceasefire. But Israeli policy is unequivocal about its “right” to re-engage militarily. There is no consensus about who will govern Gaza. Israel has made it clear the continuance of Hamas in power is unacceptable. There is no mention of the status of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the U.N. agency that Israel has outlawed and that provides the bulk of the humanitarian aid given to the Palestinians, 95 percent of whom have been displaced. There is no agreement on the reconstruction of Gaza, which lies in rubble. And, of course, there is no route in the agreement to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state.

Israeli mendacity and manipulation is pitifully predictable.

The Camp David Accords, signed in 1979 by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin, without the participation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and Egypt. But the subsequent phases, which included a promise by Israel to resolve the Palestinian question along with Jordan and Egypt, permit Palestinian self-governance in the West Bank and Gaza within five years, and end the building of Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, were never honored or take the 1993 Oslo Accords. The agreement, signed in 1993, which saw the PLO recognize Israel’s right to exist and Israel recognize the PLO as the legitimate representatives of the Palestinian people, and Oslo II, signed in 1995, which detailed the process towards peace and a Palestinian state, was stillborn. It stipulated that any discussion of illegal Jewish “settlements” was to be delayed until “final’ status talks, by which time Israeli military withdrawals from the occupied West Bank were to have been completed. Governing authority was to be transferred from Israel to the supposedly temporary Palestinian Authority. The West Bank was carved up into Areas A, B and C. The Palestinian Authority has limited authority in Areas A and B. Israel controls all of Area C, over 60 percent of the West Bank.

The right of Palestinian refugees to return to the historic lands seized from them in 1948 when Israel was created — a right enshrined in international law — was given up by the PLO leader Yasser Arafat, instantly alienating many Palestinians, especially those in Gaza where 75 percent are refugees or the descendants of refugees. Edward Said called the Oslo agreement “an instrument of Palestinian surrender, a Palestinian Versailles” and lambasted Arafat as “the Pétain of the Palestinians.”

The scheduled Israeli military withdrawals under Oslo never took place. There was no provision in the interim agreement to end Jewish colonization, only a prohibition of “unilateral steps.” There were around 250,000 Jewish colonists in the West Bank at the time of the Oslo agreement. They have increased to at least 700,000. No final treaty was ever concluded.

The journalist Robert Fisk called Oslo “a sham, a lie, a trick to entangle Arafat and the PLO into abandonment of all that they had sought and struggled for over a quarter of a century, a method of creating false hope in order to emasculate the aspiration of statehood.”

Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who signed the Oslo agreement, was assassinated on Nov. 4, 1995 following a rally in support of the agreement, by Yigal Amir, a far-right Jewish law student. Itamar Ben-Gvir, now Israel’s National Security Minister, was one of many rightwing politicians who issued threats against Rabin. Rabin’s widow, Leah, blamed Netanyahu and his supporters — who distributed leaflets at political rallies depicting Rabin in a Nazi uniform — for her husband’s murder.

Israel has carried out a series of murderous assaults on Gaza ever since, cynically calling the bombardment “mowing the lawn.” These attacks, which leave scores of dead and wounded and further degrade Gaza’s fragile infrastructure, have names such as Operation Rainbow (2004), Operation Days of Penitence (2004), Operation Summer Rains (2006), Operation Autumn Clouds (2006) and Operation Hot Winter (2008). Israel violated the June 2008 ceasefire agreement with Hamas, brokered by Egypt, by launching a border raid that killed six Hamas members. The raid provoked, as Israel intended, a retaliatory strike by Hamas, which fired crude rockets and mortar shells into Israel. The Hamas barrage provided the pretext for a massive Israeli attack. Israel, as it always does, justified its military strike on the right to defend itself.

Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009), which saw Israel carry out a ground and aerial assault over 22 days, with the Israeli air force dropping over 1,000 tons of explosives on Gaza, killed 1,385 according to the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem — of whom at least 762 were civilians, including 300 children. Four Israelis were killed over the same period by Hamas rockets and nine Israeli soldiers died in Gaza, four of whom were victims of “friendly fire.” The Israeli newspaper Haaretz would later report that “Operation Cast Lead” had been prepared over the previous six months.

Israeli historian Avi Shlaim, who served in the Israeli military, wrote that:

the brutality of Israel’s soldiers is fully matched by the mendacity of its spokesman…their propaganda is a pack of lies…It was not Hamas but the IDF that broke the ceasefire. It did so by a raid into Gaza on 4 November that killed six Hamas men. Israel’s objective is not just the defense of its population, but the eventual overthrow of the Hamas government in Gaza by turning the people against their rulers.

These series of attacks on Gaza were followed by Israeli assaults in November 2012, known as Operation Pillar of Defense and in July and August 2014 in Operation Protective Edge, a seven week campaign that left 2,251 Palestinians dead, along with 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers.

These assaults by the Israeli military were followed in 2018 by largely peaceful protests by Palestinians, known as The Great March of Return, along Gaza’s fenced-in barrier. Over 266 Palestinians were gunned down by Israeli soldiers and 30,000 more were injured. In May 2021, Israel killed over 256 Palestinians in Gaza following attacks by Israeli police on Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Further attacks on worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque took place in April 2023.

And then the breaching of the security barriers on Oct. 7, 2023 that enclose Gaza, where Palestinians had languished under a blockade for over 16 years in an open air prison. The attacks by Palestinian gunmen left some 1,200 Israeli dead— including hundreds killed by Israel itself — and gave Israel the excuse it had long sought to lay waste to Gaza, in its Swords of Iron War.

This horrific saga is not over. Israel’s goals remain unchanged – the erasure of Palestinians from their land. This proposed ceasefire is one more cynical chapter. There are many ways it can and, I suspect, will fall apart.

But let us pray, at least for the moment, that the mass slaughter will stop.

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British Complicity in Gaza: Public Outrage vs. Government Support for Israeli Apartheid

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Admin

By Phalapoem editor, 29/12/2024

The catastrophic humanitarian crisis made by Israel in Gaza has drawn starkly contrasting responses from the British public and the UK government. While widespread protests, petitions, and vocal outcries highlight a deep sense of solidarity with the Palestinian people among British citizens, the government’s unwavering support for Israel has raised serious ethical and political concerns.

The Public’s Growing Solidarity with Gaza

British public opinion has increasingly leaned towards a critical view of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Massive protests in cities like London, Manchester, and Birmingham have seen hundreds of thousands taking to the streets, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza. These demonstrations, often led by grassroots organizations and human rights advocates, reflect a broad coalition of people—Muslims, Christians, Jews, and secular activists—united in their demand for justice and accountability.

Social media has amplified the public’s voice, with millions sharing images, videos, and personal stories from Israeli war on Gaza that underscore the ongoing  genocide. Public outrage has been fueled by reports of deliberate Israeli killing of tens of thousands of civilian, Israeli targeting of hospitals, schools, and refugee camps, and the Israeli calculated and deliberate plans of  starvation and dire humanitarian conditions resulting from the siege. A YouGov poll in late 2023 found that a significant majority of Britons supported an immediate ceasefire and wanted their government to take a more balanced and humane approach to the crisis.

The UK Government’s Controversial Stance

In stark contrast, the UK government has maintained steadfast support for Israel, framing its actions as a defense against terrorism. Sunak’s and Starmer’s administrations have resisted calls for a ceasefire, instead emphasizing Israel’s “right to self-defense.” This position, widely criticized as gainer international law, one-sided and dismissive of the catastrophic loss of innocent Palestinian lives, has alienated many Britons who see it as an endorsement of collective punishment and apartheid policies. 

Reasons Behind the UK Government’s Stance

1. Historical and Political Alliances: The UK has long-standing ties with Israel, shaped by shared geopolitical interests and historical alliances. These bonds have been reinforced through defense agreements, trade relations, and political cooperation, making it politically costly for the UK government to criticize Israeli policies openly.

2. Influence of Lobbying Groups: Pro-Israel lobbying organizations, such as the Conservative Friends of Israel, wield considerable influence in British politics. These groups play a pivotal role in shaping parliamentary discourse and framing the narrative around Israel as a key ally and a bulwark of democracy in the Middle East.

3. US Alignment: The UK often aligns its foreign policy with the United States, Israel’s staunchest ally regardless of the  grave concerns of ongoing breach by Israeli apartheid all aspect of Palestinian human rights. Washington’s  shameless   support for Israel places additional pressure on the UK government to maintain a similar stance, even in the face of domestic opposition which would question the credibility of so called democracy in these countries. 

4. Framing of Security: The government’s false narrative has leaned heavily on the framing of Palestinian resistance, a perspective that has overshadowed calls for addressing the root causes of the conflict, including decades of occupation, hundreds of massacres, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid policies. This false and dirty security-focused narrative serves to justify support for illegal Israeli occupation, despite the abhorrent and disproportionate and indiscriminate impact on Palestinian civilians who combine to suffer under Israeli racist rules.

5. Media Representation: Much of the mainstream British media and mainly BBC has echoed the government’s shameful narrative, emphasising unjustified Israel’s security concerns (as the case with all colonialist countries) while downplaying or misrepresenting the scale of suffering in Gaza and West Bank. This racist and biased coverage has provided the government with a degree of insulation from British public criticism, though alternative media like Al Jazeera and social platforms have increasingly countered this zionist narrative.

Public Backlash and Calls for Change

The disconnect between the UK government’s stance and the sentiments of its citizens has led to mounting calls for accountability. Prominent figures, human rights organizations, and members of Parliament have condemned the government’s position, accusing it of complicity in war crimes. The Labour Party, under Keir Starmer, has faced internal divisions, with many party members and supporters demanding a stronger stand against Israeli aggression.

This growing dissent has also led to a resurgence of interest in boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns targeting companies and institutions complicit in Israeli apartheid. Grassroots activism, coupled with increasing international pressure, suggests that the British government’s position may become increasingly untenable if public outrage continues to grow.

The British public’s overwhelming solidarity with Palestinians highlights a deep humanitarian impulse that contrasts sharply with the government’s political calculus. As the genocide in Gaza unfolds, the UK government’s unwillingness to confront Israeli apartheid not only undermines its moral standing but also risks alienating an electorate that demands justice, accountability, and a commitment to human rights. The question remains: will public pressure be enough to shift the UK’s stance, or will political interests continue to outweigh the cries for justice?

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The Apartheid’s Twisted Narrative That Led to Gaza Genocide

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Admin
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Defying Despair: Wael’s Resilient Odyssey

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Admin 
Background: 
Israeli Occupational forces (IOF) killed his wife, daughter, a son and grandson. The next day Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera ‘s journalist returned to work. A few weeks later, IOF  injured him and killed his colleague, Samir Abu Daqa, Jazeera’s journalist. The next day Wael returned to work. A few days later, IOF  killed his eldest  son. The next day Wael returned to work. Wael is of the great men of our time.


Through the crucible of grief, Wael stood tall,
IOF's cruelty, a tragic downfall.
Wife, daughter, son, and grandson, taken away,
Yet, the next day, back to work, he'd sway.

A journalist for Al Jazeera, the pen his might,
A few weeks later, more darkness in sight.
Injured he was, colleague Samir met his end,
Yet, undeterred, Wael's resolve wouldn't bend.

Days pass again, IOF's relentless hand,
Took his eldest son from the family strand.
Yet, Wael, resilient, a spirit unbowed,
Returned to work, despite the shroud.

One of our time, a great man indeed,
In the face of adversity, his courage agreed.
Wael's story, a testament, resounding and clear,
A symbol of strength, in a world severe.
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Zionist Organizations and Their Role in Systematic Occupation of Palestine

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Admin

AstroMystic, 30/11/25

The complex history of Zionist movements reveals a strategic vision aimed at establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine. These movements, often characterized as political forces, implemented well-thought-out strategies to secure control over the land. Below is a concise list of key Zionist organizations and their roles in shaping the territorial landscape of the region. The following eight Zionist organizations played integral roles in the strategic pursuit of territorial objectives in Palestine, contributing to the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and financing the systematic killing of Palestinians and dispossessing their homes and lands.

▪ Lovers of Zion (חובבי ציון)

Emerging in Russia in 1881 as a response to restrictions imposed on Jewish communities, the Lovers of Zion aimed to combat assimilation and promote the return to Zion. They laid the foundation for political Zionism and contributed significantly to the establishment of Jewish colonies in Palestine.

▪ Jewish Colonization Association (ייִק”אַ)

Established in 1891, the JCA, led by Baron Maurice de Hirsch, focused on relocating oppressed Jews to various parts of the world, including Palestine. It played a pivotal role in managing existing colonies, purchasing lands, and establishing new Jewish settlements, contributing substantially to the Zionist cause.

▪ World Zionist Organization (ההסתדרות הציונית העולמית)

Founded in 1897 after the First Zionist Congress, the WZO aimed to establish a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. It played a crucial role in the creation of strategic institutions, including the Jewish National Fund and the Jewish Colonial Trust, setting the stage for long-term Zionist objectives.

▪ Halutzim (Pioneers)

During the Second Aliyah (1904–1914), the Halutzim, or pioneers, migrated to Palestine to become agricultural workers, aligning their endeavors with the goal of territorial control. They laid the foundation for Zionist terrorist gangs, such as Hashomerand Haganah, which later integrated into the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

▪ Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL) – Jewish National Fund(קרן קיימת לישראל)

Established in 1901, KKL focused on acquiring and developing lands in Palestine. By the end of 1947, it possessed a substantial portion of the land area in Palestine, contributing significantly to the Zionist colonization effort.

▪ Keren Hayesod (קרן היסוד)

Established in 1920, Keren Hayesod (translated as The Foundation Fund) played a vital role in financing immigration and settlement activities in Palestine. It became the primary source of funds for the Jewish Agency, contributing extensively to the development of agricultural settlements, infrastructure, and various industries.

▪ Jewish National Council (הוועד הלאומי)

Founded in 1920, the Jewish National Council supported Zionist presence in Palestine until the establishment of the interim government in 1948. It collaborated closely with the Jewish Agency, representing Jewish settlers and outlining comprehensive political, economic, and military programs.

▪  Jewish Agency for Israel (הסוכנות היהודית לארץ ישראל)

Established in 1929, the Jewish Agency became a quasi-government for Jewish settlers in Palestine during the British Mandate. Its goals included increasing Jewish immigration, purchasing land, encouraging agricultural settlement, and preserving Hebrew language and heritage.

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In Handala’s Playground: Season 2, Episode 7: Lessons Unlearned

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Admin

S.T. Salah, 15/12/25

[Scene: A vast hall of marble and glass — the European Commission in Brussels. Outside, rain falls softly. Inside, the floor reflects both the light above and the moral darkness beneath. Handala stands barefoot, facing the wall. Ursula enters, papers in hand, her face polished with diplomacy.]

Ursula von der Leyen:

Who let this child in here? You shouldn’t be in these halls, little one. This is where adults make decisions.

Handala (without turning):

Adults? You mean those who speak of human rights while choosing who gets to be human?

Ursula:

We defend democracy, freedom, and security. The European Union stands for peace.

Handala:

Peace has a strange meaning here. You send weapons to the illegal occupier and silence to the occupied. Tell me, Madam President — when you say “security,” do you mean for those who have walls, or for those who have none left?

Ursula (measured):

Israel has the right to defend itself.

Handala:

And Gaza has the right to exist. Or does existence itself threaten your alliances?

Ursula:

You don’t understand politics, child. The world is complex — history, law, responsibility—

Handala (interrupting):

History? You should know it well. Germany once said it was only following orders too.

Law? You helped write it — then watched it burn with every bomb dropped on Gaza’s children.

Responsibility? You owe it not to the past, but to the living.

Ursula (coldly):

We have condemned the humanitarian situation. We call for aid, for restraint—

Handala:

Condemned? You condemned words while others condemned children. You called for “aid” after you helped starve them. Restraint, Madam President, is a word without meaning to a mother who buries her child under concrete.

Ursula (defensive):

We must be careful with language. The term “genocide” must be determined by courts.

Handala:

So justice must wait until every witness is dead? You once said Europe had learned from its crimes. Tell me, when did forgetting become your form of remembrance?

Ursula (quietly):

I have seven children. I know what loss means.

Handala (turns slightly, still not showing his face):

Then every time you see their faces, remember the children you refused to see. Their names could fill every corridor of this building — and still, you’d call it politics.

Ursula:

You don’t understand the weight of leadership.

Handala:

No. I understand its cowardice.

You lead nations but cannot lead your conscience.

(Silence. The sound of distant thunder. Handala begins to walk toward the exit, still facing away.)

Ursula (softly):

Where are you going?

Handala:

To where Europe’s values are buried — among the ruins you refused to see. When you are ready to face them, you’ll find me there, still turned away, waiting for justice to look me in the eye.

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Letter 4 to the Olive Tree: The Seeds of Tomorrow

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Admin

Phalapoem editor, 30/11/25


Dear Olive Tree,

This morning, I watched a child plant a sapling beside your roots. His small hands pressed the soil with care, his face shining with a quiet pride he could not yet name. The air was cool, filled with the scent of wild thyme and the distant hum of the land awakening. You stood above him like a guardian, ancient, patient, eternal, as if blessing him with your shadow.

In that moment, I understood what you have been trying to tell us all along: that hope does not grow from words alone, but from hands that touch the earth. That every seed we plant is a promise, a promise that life continues, that Palestine endures.

The children of this land carry your story in their hearts. They grow among your branches, learning the language of the soil, the rhythm of the wind. They know that every olive they pick, every sapling they nurture, is an act of remembrance and of defiance. They have inherited both your resilience and your grace.

You, dear tree, have seen centuries pass, empires rise and fall, seasons of struggle and silence. Yet here you are, still alive, still giving. And now the children of Palestine carry your legacy forward. In their laughter, in their songs, in the gardens they plant beside their homes, they build tomorrow with faith that no storm can wash away.

One day, this young sapling will stand tall beside you. Its roots will intertwine with yours, its leaves will dance in the same sun. And long after we are gone, it will tell our story of endurance, of love, of belonging, just as you have done for generations.

For as long as olive trees grow in this land,

Palestine will never forget who she is.

With eternal faith,

Your Child of Palestine

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Jerusalem by Nazar Qabbani

Posted on November 30, 2025 by Admin 
I wept until my tears were dry
I prayed until the candles flickered
I knelt until the floor creaked
I asked about Mohammed and Christ
Oh Jerusalem, the fragrance of prophets
The shortest path between earth and sky
Oh Jerusalem, the citadel of laws
A beautiful child with fingers charred
and downcast eyes
You are the shady oasis passed by the Prophet
Your streets are melancholy
Your minarets are mourning
You, the young maiden dressed in black
Who rings the bells in the Nativity
On Saturday morning?
Who brings toys for the children
On Christmas eve?
Oh Jerusalem, the city of sorrow
A big tear wandering in the eye
Who will halt the aggression
On you, the pearl of religions?
Who will wash your bloody walls?
Who will safeguard the Bible?
Who will rescue the Quran?
Who will save Christ?
Who will save man?
Oh Jerusalem my town
Oh Jerusalem my love
Tomorrow the lemon trees will blossom
And the olive trees will rejoice
Your eyes will dance
The migrant pigeons will return
To your sacred roofs
And your children will play again
And fathers and sons will meet
On your rosy hills
My town
The town of peace and olives.
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Living Under Occupation: What My Heart Has Learned to Feel

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Admin

Phalapoem editor, 29/11/25


People often ask me what it feels like to live under Israeli occupation.

They ask whether it’s possible to feel anything other than hatred toward those who punish us collectively, humiliate us at checkpoints on daily basis, shoot indiscriminately our children, steal our land, demolish our houses, control our movement, even our breath.

I never know how to give a simple answer, because nothing about this life is simple.

But I can tell you what I feel.

Imagine waking up each morning with the quiet relief that you survived the night, that you were not arrested, injured, tortured, raped  or shot while you slept.

For many Palestinians, this is not an abstract fear but a daily reality shaped by brutal military occupation, constant raids, thousands of checkpoints, and systemic restrictions on movement and safety.

What does it mean to begin a day under this weight?

And how do you end it, knowing that tomorrow may bring the same uncertainty , the same struggle, the same need to simply endure?

When you wake up every morning not knowing if your home, your family, or your dignity will survive the day, emotions don’t behave the way they do in peaceful places.

I have known fear, fear that crawls under your skin and stays there forever.

I have known humiliation, quiet, sharp, unforgettable.

I have known grief that does not end, because every day brings a new funeral, a new loss, a new hole in someone’s life.

And yes, I have known hatred.

Not because I was taught it.

Not because my people are “born with it,” as the occupiers like to say.

But because when someone takes your land, dehumanises your existence, and decides your rights for you, hatred is not a decision or a plan, it’s a natural reaction and wound. 

A wound that bleeds every time you try to live a normal life.

This might surprise people, but hatred is not the only companion of an occupied heart.

Sometimes I feel sorrow, deep, crushing sorrow for what we’ve lost and witnessed. 

Sometimes I feel angry for the constant military support our occupiers receive from those who pretend to care about human rights. 

Sometimes I feel confused about the future of humanity in the face of  selective treatment. 

Sometimes I feel sad for the endless suffering of Palestinians.

Sometimes I feel hopeless for for the world’s inability to put an end to the illegal occupation of my people. 

Sometimes I feel numb, as if emotions have tired themselves out.

Sometimes I feel hope, fragile and trembling, for a future I’ve never seen but cannot stop imagining.

Sometimes I even feel compassion for individuals who are caught in the same system, even if they stand on the oppressive  side.

Sometimes I feel nobody cares but 

sometimes I feel that millions of people around the world support our cause. 

The truth is: the human heart is capable of many feelings, even under a boot.

But they are never simple.

They are never pure.

They are tangled in pain, layered with memories, shaped by survival. 

Imagine waking up every morning with the feeling that you are still not imprisoned or shot or tortured? This is the feeling of every Palestinian being oppressed by Israelis. How to begin the day and how to end it? 

If there is one feeling that defines life under occupation, it is not hatred.

It is desperation.

Desperation is what grows in you when you realise your freedom will not come through negotiation.

When every path to dignity is blocked.

When every door closes no matter how peacefully you knock.

People like to debate the actions of the oppressed.

They judge the symptoms while ignoring the sickness.

But what happens when a person, or a nation, reaches the point where fear is no longer heavier than despair?

Desperation does not justify everything.

But it explains everything.

And explanations matter, especially to those who prefer to look at consequences rather than causes.

I am responsible for my actions, this is true.

But the world forgets that someone else is responsible for the conditions that shaped those actions.

Occupation is not just the presence of soldiers.

It is an apartheid system, a brutal structure that controls your body, your choices, your future.

When the entire population of Palestine is humiliated, enclosed, impoverished, displaced, and denied justice for more than seven decades…

When people are made to feel invisible…

When people are locked in enclaves and separated by walls..

When people are treated like animals… 

When people are  disrespected and abused…

When the perpetrators are perceived as victims and the victims as perpetrators…

When the world allows your suffering to become normal…

Then the occupying power cannot wash its hands of the consequences.

The chain of responsibility begins long before the desperate moment.

Occupation plants the seed.

Oppression waters it.

Desperation is the fruit.

Judge the fruit if you must,

but do not ignore the tree that grew it.

Can We Ever Feel Something Other Than Pain?

Yes. 

But not like this, not while the injustice continues.

I have seen glimmers of what peace could look like.

Children still laugh.

Old people still dream.

Families still sit together, imagining a life where we do not need permission for basic human existence.

I believe that someday we could feel hope without pain attached to it.

We could feel trust.

We could feel forgiveness , not forced, not demanded, but genuine.

But this can only happen when the Israeli occupation ends.

When we are given not charity, not pity, but dignity.

When we are allowed to stand equal, not tolerated as lesser beings.

Only then will the heart have space for emotions other than anger, survival, or grief.

I do not wake up choosing hatred.

I wake up choosing to survive.

If the world wants to understand us, it must understand our pain, not dismiss it, not sanitize it, not demonise it , not ban it, not blame it.

Because until justice arrives, until freedom is real, an occupied heart will continue to feel what any human heart would feel under such conditions.

Not because we are a people of hatred,

but because we are a people of Israeli-made wounds, 

and wounds demand to be felt before they can ever hope to heal.

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The Watermelon: A Juicy Symbol of Palestinian Unity and Defiance

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Admin

Astromystic, 29/11/25

Watermelon and Palestinian Identity: The watermelon serves as a symbolic representation of Palestine due to its color alignment with the Palestinian flag, which is characterized by red, black, white, and green. Its role as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and resistance gained prominence following the Six-Day War in 1967, a pivotal moment when Israel seized control of the West Bank and Gaza. Shortly after that, Israel prohibited the waving and display of the Palestinian flag in Gaza and the West Bank. To circumvent this restriction, Palestinians adopted the watermelon, as its cut-open form displays the national colors. Since then, the watermelon has retained its significance, becoming a timeless representation of Palestinian identity and unwavering resilience. Cultivated locally in Gaza and the West Bank, watermelons have become a popular fruit among Palestinians. The watermelon has emerged as a prominent symbol for pro-Palestinian demonstrators, experiencing a resurgence on social media, particularly amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war which began on October 2023.

Pre-Oslo Restrictions on Palestinian Flag: In 1980, Israeli authorities closed down an exhibition at the 79 Gallery in Ramallah, featuring the artwork of Palestinian artist SlimanMansour and others. Additionally, before the so-called Oslo Accords (1993), Palestinians faced punishment for possessing a Palestinian flag or any item with similar colors to the Palestinian flag. As a child, I vividly recall the hardships of having a Palestinian flag at home, as Israeli soldiers would conduct house searches, subjecting the entire family to harassment, punishment, and arbitrary arrest. This serves as a poignant illustration of the harsh reality of the Israeli occupation and its intimidating impact. The ban on the Palestinian flag was eventually lifted in 1993, a development associated with the Oslo Accords.

Global Flag Solidarity Sparks Israeli Crackdown: In 2023, during the war on Gaza, where massive genocides were committed against the Gazan people, resulting in the deaths of approximately 12,000 children and 10,000 elderly individuals, there was a resurgence in many countries worldwide, with people holding Palestinian flags everywhere to express support for the Palestinian population and condemn the genocide. This has prompted Israel to crack down on the display of the Palestinian flag. As a result, the Israeli Knesset preliminarily approved a draft law on Wednesday, prohibiting the raising of the Palestinian flag in the 1948 territories. The bill, presented by Almog Cohen of the “Jewish Power” party, led by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, received 54 votes in favor and 16 against. According to Haaretz, if the law passes three readings, individuals waving the Palestinian flag could face penalties of up to one year in prison. The move reflects heightened tensions and restrictions on expressions of Palestinian identity within the Israeli political landscape.

The Palestinian Identity Shines Through: As the watermelon continues to symbolize Palestinian resilience, the symbolic power of the fruit and the determination of the Palestinian people persist despite the challenges. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the pursuit of justice and identity remains unwavering. The evolving narratives of symbolism and suppression tell a broader story of a people committed to asserting their presence, rights, and aspirations. The Palestinian identity will undoubtedly stand out against Zionist brutality, which fears the Palestinian flag and persists in obliterating Palestinian culture with brutal and fascist measures. May the vibrant colors of freedom and peace flourish for all Palestinians.

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International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People: A Call for Justice and Humanity

Posted on November 29, 2025 by Admin

By Admin, 29/11/2024

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed annually on November 29, serves as a solemn reminder of the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people under the Israeli apartheid and a global call for justice, peace, and human rights. Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977, this day underscores the international community’s commitment to addressing the unresolved question  of Palestine and supporting the rights of its people to self-determination, independence, and freedom from Israeli occupation.

Historical Context

The date, November 29, is significant as it marks the anniversary of the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution that proposed the partition of Palestine into two states—one Palestinian  and one Jewish. While this resolution was a pivotal moment in the history of the region, its implementation led to profound and lasting consequences for the Palestinian people, including massacres, ethnic cleansing , statelessness, and the ongoing denial of their human  rights. The day of solidarity provides an opportunity to reflect on these historical injustices and to renew calls for a just and lasting solution.

A Global Recognition of Struggle

The solidarity day is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is an acknowledgment of the Palestinian people’s resilience in the face of brutal Israeli aggression. Over decades, Palestinians have endured occupation, apartheid policies, forced displacement, and systematic human rights violations. 

Despite these challenges, they have demonstrated remarkable endurance and determination to assert their identity and rights. The international observance aims to amplify their voices and highlight the urgent need for meaningful action to address their suffering.

The Role of International Solidarity

Solidarity with Palestine extends beyond words of support; it demands tangible action from the global community. This includes:

  1. Advocating for Accountability: Holding israel  responsible for violations of international law accountable, including through mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court.
  2. Ending Israeli Occupation and Apartheid: Calling for an end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and dismantling policies that amount to apartheid, as documented by numerous human rights organizations.
  3. Supporting Humanitarian Efforts: Providing humanitarian aid to alleviate the dire conditions in Gaza, the West Bank, and refugee camps, where Palestinians face severe restrictions on access to basic needs.
  4. Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS): Supporting non-violent resistance strategies that pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights.
  5. Advancing a Two-State Solution or Alternatives: Reviving genuine discussions on viable solutions that ensure peace, security, and justice for all people in the region.

Exposing Hypocrisy and Double Standards

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People also exposes the glaring double standards in global responses to human rights violations. While other crises often garner swift action and widespread condemnation, the plight of Palestinians is frequently met with inaction or selective outrage. This day challenges the world to confront its own inconsistencies and to uphold universal principles of justice and equality without bias.

A Vision for the Future

Solidarity is not only about recognizing past and present injustices but also about envisioning a future where Palestinians can live in dignity and freedom. This involves ensuring their right to return, dismantling the structures of occupation and apartheid, and creating conditions for coexistence based on mutual respect and equality.

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is a call to action for individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide. It is a day to reaffirm our shared humanity, to demand justice, and to work collectively toward ending the oppression of the Palestinian people. As long as Palestinians are denied their fundamental rights, global solidarity remains not only a moral imperative but a necessary force for change. Let this day inspire renewed efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Palestine and the world.

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A Longer Table in the Shadow of the Wall. Why Sharing, Not Separation, Is the Path to Justice and Humanity

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Admin

Phalapoem editor, 28/11/25


The proverb “When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher wall” carries a universal moral message. It calls on people and nations to choose generosity over fear, openness over exclusion, and community over division.

But this message takes on a deeper, more urgent meaning when viewed through the reality of occupied Palestine, where a literal separation wall divides families, communities, and entire ways of life.

The concrete barrier that cuts through the West Bank stands more than 700 kilometers long and up to eight meters high. For many Palestinians, it is not only a physical obstruction but also a symbol of:

• collective punishment. 

• restricted movement

• economic hardship

• separation from farmland

• isolation from family and 

neighbours

• apartheid and fascism 

• unequal distribution of resources

• hatred, racism , discrimination and ongoing conflict 

Where walls rise, fear grows. Where tables extend, trust is built.

A longer table is not just a metaphor for hospitality, it is a call for justice.

It means:

• recognizing the humanity of those on the other side of political or physical borders

• acknowledging shared values and shared struggles

• understanding that safety comes not from fortification but from fairness

• creating spaces where people can meet, eat, talk, and be seen

In occupied Palestine, where families are separated by Israeli checkpoints and apartheid walls, the idea of a shared table is a radical act of hope.

In Palestinian culture as in many others food is a sacred expression of love. Offering bread, olives, or warm dishes to a guest is more than nourishment; it is a declaration:

“You are welcome. You belong here.”

A long table filled with maqlouba, hummus, taboon bread, and fruits from the land symbolizes:

• rootedness

• hospitality

• resilience

• cultural survival

At such a table, the wall becomes irrelevant or better yet, collapses completely.

Walls freeze conflict.

Tables invite conversation.

What would it mean to choose policies that build understanding instead of barriers?

That prioritize dignity over superiority and dominance?

That see every human being as deserving of safety, respect, and a place at the table?

It would mean imagining a future where:

• children on both sides grow up without fear

• communities thrive through cooperation

• diversity becomes strength

• justice replaces hostility

A future where the long table becomes real not just an illustration.

The message is simple, but its impact is profound:

Those who have more power, land, safety, and resources carry a responsibility to share.

Extending the table is an act of courage.

Breaking the apartheid wall is an act of justice.

Sitting together is an act of peace.

In a world where too many walls rise, may we choose to build spaces of connection,  in occupied Palestine and everywhere where every person has a seat, a voice, and a share in the feast of humanity. 

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Bombing Gaza Hospitals: A Devastating Assault on Humanity

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Admin

By Phalapoem editor, 27/12/2024

In a shocking escalation of genocide, Israeli airstrikes have deliberately targeted hospitals in Gaza, killing medical staff and destroying critical infrastructure essential to saving lives. These actions, condemned globally, represent an assault on the principles of humanity, international law, and the moral fabric of civilization itself.

Hospitals as Targets

Hospitals, by definition, are sanctuaries of healing. They are explicitly protected under international law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and the sick or wounded. Yet in Gaza, these sanctuaries have become death traps. Strikes on hospitals like Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital and others have not only claimed the lives of patients and staff but have also paralyzed Gaza’s already overwhelmed healthcare system.

The bombing of medical facilities in a region suffering from blockades, shortages of medical supplies, and constant bombardment compounds the crisis exponentially. Patients undergoing surgeries have died mid-procedure. Premature babies dependent on incubators powered by electricity have succumbed as generators failed. Doctors have been killed as they worked to save lives, turning heroes into casualties.

Killing Those Who Save Lives

Medical staff in Gaza have become frontline responders to relentless violence, working under impossible conditions. These doctors, nurses, and paramedics—many of whom stayed behind to care for the injured despite the risks—have been targeted and killed. Ambulances have been struck by missiles, leaving first responders dead or gravely injured.

By targeting the very individuals who strive to preserve life, the Israeli occupation army has committed an atrocity that strikes at the heart of human dignity. The loss of these brave souls is not just a tragedy for Gaza; it is a loss for humanity as a whole.

A Clear Violation of International Law

The deliberate targeting of hospitals and medical staff constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. Such acts are war crimes, plain and simple. The Geneva Conventions are unambiguous: medical facilities and personnel must be protected, even in the midst of war. To target them is to defy the fundamental tenets of humanity.

Israel has defended its actions by claiming that Hamas uses hospitals as shields for military operations. Yet these claims are  unverified and fake, and do not justify indiscriminate bombings that kill civilians and destroy vital infrastructure. Even in cases of alleged military use, international law mandates proportionality and the protection of civilians. Bombing a hospital filled with sick and injured patients, staff, and displaced families is indefensible.

Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

The destruction of hospitals has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. Gaza’s healthcare system was already on the brink due to years of blockade, lack of medical supplies, and power shortages. Now, with key hospitals in ruins, the injured are left to die without treatment. Women in labor have nowhere to deliver safely. Children injured in bombings are dying for lack of care.

The psychological toll is equally devastating. For the people of Gaza, hospitals were among the few places of refuge in a warzone. That refuge is now gone, leaving millions with nowhere to turn.

The Global Response

While much of the world watches in horror, global leaders have offered little more than empty statements. The United Nations, international human rights organizations, and medical advocacy groups have called for an immediate cessation of attacks on medical facilities and the protection of healthcare workers. Yet these calls have been largely ignored.

For every bomb that falls on a hospital, for every doctor killed, the international community’s failure to act becomes a deeper stain on its conscience.

The Moral Reckoning

The bombing of Gaza’s hospitals is not just a military act—it is a moral outrage. It is a direct attack on the most fundamental human values: the sanctity of life, the protection of the vulnerable, and the duty to heal, not harm.

If these actions are allowed to go unpunished, they set a dangerous precedent, signaling to the world that hospitals, medical staff, and the sick and wounded can be considered acceptable collateral damage in warfare. Such a precedent endangers not just Gaza, but every conflict zone on the planet.

The bombing of Gaza hospitals by the Israeli military is a war criminal act that defies justification, violates international law, and erodes the moral foundations of humanity. It is imperative that the international community holds those responsible accountable. Failure to do so will not only abandon the people of Gaza but will also erode the principles that protect us all in times of war and peace.

The world must not look away. The cost of silence is measured in lives lost and humanity diminished.

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