If we try to put into words what is happening in Gaza, avoiding political or legal analyses, we end up with this: a monster is waging a war of annihilation against an entire people.
Though it has an inexhaustible supply of cutting-edge weaponry at its disposal, it isn't satisfied – instead adding to its deadly arsenal the ancient tactic of starvation to inflict a slow and agonising death by imposing a tight siege on its victims.
Instead of the world confronting the beast, it begs it to allow a few scraps of food to its victims, readily accepting its dystopian conditions, and behaving as though those being deliberately starved and exterminated are facing a drought in a far-flung and difficult-to-reach region. Simultaneously, the world feigns ignorance as to the identity of the killer, whose approval it craves.
A stain on humanity that won't wash off
While the people of Gaza are best placed to tell their own story, I'm wish to explain the enormity of our shame, though I won't succeed.
This shame will never disappear, it will only intensify. Especially as the monster's arms supplier flies into Gaza on a fighter jet, coldly surveying the trap set by his master in the White House, under the pretence of providing "aid distribution centres".
But Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, won't allow a halt to the sniping, bombing, or starvation operations. Indeed, no Hollywood horror writer could have imagined the scenes in Gaza, though the carnage is captured live and reaches every corner of the globe.
Witkoff is the Messenger of Death, who blames the victims and feeds the monster what it needs to keep devouring the people of Gaza. While he roams Arab capitals freely, we are mere spectators, paralysed by powerlessness whilst our governments are only ruled by their fear of losing power.
It's hard to imagine that before this, major powers in the international community met in New York to discuss recognition of "a Palestinian state" - even whilst the monster has continued swallowing the land to form its "state" in a series of Israeli military terror attacks in Gaza and settler terror attacks in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem.
Of course, the beast's keeper in the White House openly rejects the announcement made in New York: the monster alone has been authorised to decide the fate of the Palestinian people.
Light in the darkness
It is a dark picture, but there are however some glimmers of hope. While the overlord in the White House grows increasingly unhinged in his attempts to blot out these flickers, they continue to shine. From the shifting European position, to the strength of the wave of popular support for Palestine across the world, Palestine is now an issue embraced by the masses - not the distant problem of a faraway people.
This is an echo of the humanity that remains in the collective soul of the world, whose vision has until now been clouded by media lies and acquiescence to the logic of force.
It is this light source that can illuminate the path ahead for the Palestinian struggle as the groans of the starving and the screams of the dying continue.
And how could they not continue when even the supposed "brotherly" and neighbouring states still race to normalise with the monster? They scramble to embrace Israel into their fold, and accept the legitimacy of it casting the Palestinian people into a concentration camp in their own land. In this vein, they are colluding with the beast in the game of dropping food packages from the air – instead of forcing open the gates of the great prison.
The path of least resistance is paved with the dead
I don't claim that any aid reaching Gaza is useless; but the continued smooth running of the death machine is oiled and eased by our surrender to the monster's diktats, making us partners in its crime, whatever our intentions – or delusions. This is because these states believe the path of least resistance is the path to prosperity, but forget that no future of this kind could come to pass via the corpses of Gaza's children.
While hundreds of thousands march in the streets of cities across Europe and Latin America, and even in the heart of the US itself, chanting "Viva Palestina" and "My blood is Palestinian", such protests are banned in Arab capitals. Even raising a Palestinian flag is punishable in some Arab states.
The very mention of Palestine has all but disappeared from Arab cultural and music festivals, and those artists who show their solidarity now pay a price.
Arab countries are contributing to the dimming of the light because they fear igniting the flame of change within their own societies, despite there being no opposition seeking (or strong enough) to overthrow them. These states answer solely to Washington – not to their peoples.
The delusion of an Arab homeland
Gaza's proud people are sending desperate messages requesting funds to be transferred for them to survive, while immense wealth accumulates day by day in the Arab lands surrounding them. After 22 months of complicity and inaction, it is clear to them that their greater homeland – the Arab world – is but an illusion.
We will all be held accountable one day. And those who fear losing a penny of their wealth to save the life of a child in Gaza, and those who pant and crave to prove to the world that they are "civilised" people who "love Israel", even parroting Israel's list of excuses to "justify" its criminal brutality, deserve accountability for their actions.
There is no escaping our current reality unless we take action. It's taken the killing of over 60,000 Palestinians for some media pundits and politicians to wake up; how many more do we need? We must confront ourselves so as not to waste the opportunity we have at this moment. There is a change underway in the world – this is undeniable – and we cannot afford to remain silent.
Spreading hope
Of course, many wonder what they should do. The options are difficult, but we must not despair. There are many already doing a lot, so let us join them.
Answering the call of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is one answer, and an important historical tactic. Participating in sending donations and in spreading awareness is also central. This is key considering among the most difficult things we face daily is people who know nothing about Palestine, nor about their Arab countries and issues, who don't understand what is happening, and aren't being inspired by the young people of the world who have become experts and eloquent defenders of the Palestinian cause.
On the other hand, an active generation has emerged that rejects humiliation or surrender, and speaks with strength, courage, understanding, and knowledge. It's true our path is long, but our duty is to spread hope. After all, defeat lies in our loss of hope and self-confidence, and we don't have the luxury of surrender when it is our destiny being decided.
What the US and Israel are doing is clear - they don't hide it. They tell us our region is now an Israeli sphere of influence, and we have no choice but to stay quiet about the crimes being committed, to act like the prophet Joseph's brothers, and that our collective salvation lies in our submission and obedience. But in doing so, we only whet the appetite of the monster, which sees its existence and continuity in eliminating us - and is acting accordingly.
Lamis Andoni is a Palestinian journalist, writer and academic who launched The New Arab as its editor-in-chief.
This is an edited and abridged translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here.
Translated by Rose Chacko
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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff, or the author's employer.