Photos that Capture the Heartbreaking Situation in Palestine
By: Sadia Naureen/Arab America Contributing Writer
Words fail to describe the horrific situation that Palestinians have been facing for more than 73 years. Despite the heavy censorship by social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, Palestinians still manage to share a glimpse of their reality. A picture has the power to say a thousand words so here are some photos that do just that.
The children of a Palestinian man named Saber Suleiman cries at his and their older brothers’ funerals, saying: “Why did you leave us?” The heartbreaking cries of Suleiman’s sons were heard and shared throughout various social media platforms. Suleiman along with his two sons was killed by an Israeli airstrike in their home in Gaza. This photo shows the consequences of Israeli airstrikes, it is more than destruction of buildings or “targeting” Hamas. The airstrikes are killing innocent civilians and leaving many children fatherless.
Although many people may not know that Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest place for Muslims, Israel is definitely aware of the significance that Al-Aqsa holds. As shown in the photo, during Ramadan, which is the holiest month for Muslims, the Israeli government bombarded Al-Aqsa. While Palestinians were peacefully praying, the Israeli police fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades; not even sparing innocent children, women, or the elderly. According to the United Nations “Religious sites and all places of worship and contemplation should be safe havens, not sites of terror or bloodshed.” As seen in the photo, the sacred Al-Aqsa mosque became a place of violence and destruction at the hands of Israel. According to the Red Crescent, at least 520 Palestinians were wounded.
A Palestinian mother and father carrying their children as they evacuate their building in Gaza because it was hit by Israeli airstrikes. This is one out of thousands of families who have become homeless in a blink of an eye; forever losing their belongings and valuables. The terror on their faces is heart-wrenching. They are thankful just to be alive since many people did not make it out of their homes in time and fell victim to the Israeli air strikes.
This side-by-side image shows the brutal reality of the Palestinian movement. It is not new, in fact, many generations have been facing the same struggles. The situation in Sheikh Jarrah reminds Palestinians of the 1948 Nakba. The word Nakba translates to “catastrophe” which is exactly what hundreds of thousands of Palestinians faced. The Nakba is the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians which was necessary to fulfill the Zionist ambitions of establishing a Jewish State. The Zionist ideology is the foundation of Israel which is still fully intact and implemented, hence the current events.
This picture shows a birthday celebration in Gaza, despite the destruction of homes at the hands of Israeli missile attacks. Palestinians have not seen a peaceful day in over 73 years; however, the resilience of Palestinians is remarkable. Finding joy in little moments, like celebrating a birthday, are probably the only thing that brings a smile to the innocent children that are living in fear every single day.
The New York Times published a front-page collage of the children killed in Gaza. Numbers often fail to grasp the reality of the situation. Seeing the faces of just a few of the innocent children that were brutally murdered is eye-opening for many. 67 children in Gaza forever gone, children who had hopes and dreams that will remain unfulfilled. To see more in detail about the children, click here.
The brutality that Palestinians are facing leaves many speechless, there are simply no words strong enough to describe the situation. Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated: “The violence in Jerusalem was an attack on all Muslims,” adding that “protecting the honor of Jerusalem is a duty for every Muslim.” It is important to acknowledge that the struggle of Palestinians is a humanitarian issue. Israel has violated numerous international laws and killed countless civilians without facing any consequences.
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