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From trauma to justice: Why Palestinians need more than a ceasefire

The root causes of Palestinian suffering - occupation, illegal settlements and apartheid policies - must be addressed if there is to be any hope for lasting peace in the region
A man stands on the upper floor of a heavily damaged building in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on 21 January 2025, as residents return home following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas (Eyad Baba/AFP)
A man stands on the upper floor of a heavily damaged building in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on 21 January 2025, as residents return home following a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas (Eyad Baba/AFP)

As a Palestinian who has lived through generations of displacement and systemic oppression, I cannot celebrate the ceasefire.

It offers no freedom, independence or security - only a temporary reprieve from Israel's unrelenting violence.

I will never forget the 150 days of genocide I endured before leaving Gaza and narrowly escaping death.

Today, my cousin grieves her seven-year-old son, who was killed along with his father and other family members. Another cousin's wife lost her entire family. Three of my mother's cousins were killed. My brother was injured.

Many friends - Yousef Dawwas, Nadia Abd el-Latif, Mohammed Hamo, Mahmoud al-Naouq and others - were taken from us.

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Though my body survived, my heart is still trapped in Gaza.

I have nightmares of bombings and rubble, and my family remains divided. My father and siblings are still in Gaza, while my mother and two siblings are in Cairo, feeling no sense of home there.

This ceasefire does not rebuild our destroyed homes, universities or hospitals. It does not restore clean water, electricity or the lives we had before 7 October 2023.

Temporary relief

Gaza is left in ruins, with most people living in tents, enduring disease, famine and profound loss.

We cannot forget the bombing of ambulances, the torture of our detained or the world's silence and complicity.

We want to live together in our homeland, enjoying human rights such as the freedom to travel without obstacles, permits or interrogations

My cousin, Saeb Safi, was detained and beaten after being taken from al-Shifa hospital.

The pain and trauma of what we have endured are etched into our hearts. A ceasefire cannot erase the scars of genocide, nor will it ever bring justice or healing.

People often ask what Palestinians want.

While opinions vary on the vision of liberation, the struggle for it, and the approaches to achieving freedom and rights, one thing unites us: the desire for full rights and inclusion like any other people.

Palestinians yearn to overcome the fragmentation imposed by Israel, which destroys our society through physical, political and social divisions.

We want to live together in our homeland, enjoying human rights such as the freedom to travel without obstacles, permits or interrogations.

For 76 years, we have pleaded for the world's support to end our misery and occupation. Yet, we remain excluded, marginalised and treated as invisible.

While the ceasefire in Gaza offers temporary relief, it is not a permanent solution. It comes far too late - 467 days late - and provides no guarantees that we will not face further violence, displacement or death.

Who will ensure our safety and freedom?

Exclusion

The Covid-19 pandemic revealed humanity's interconnectedness. Violating lockdowns endangered collective well-being, prompting widespread cooperation. This serves as a metaphor for shared humanity: the suffering of one group threatens the humanity of all.

Similarly, the global community must view the Palestinian struggle not as an isolated issue but as a moral imperative for all. A ceasefire is not enough; we need global solidarity and collective action.

The nation-state system grants rights only to those belonging to recognised states, marginalising the stateless.


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Sociologist Rogers Brubaker highlights this exclusion, noting that states expel unwanted "migrants" into neighbouring states, preserving sovereignty by excluding the marginalised.

Palestinians exemplify this reality.

Denied an independent state, framed as the "other", and subjected to systemic violence, we are stripped of fundamental rights. Israel's actions are justified as self-defence, while Palestinian resistance is branded terrorism, revealing the hypocrisy of the global system.

Without legal recognition, we are rendered invisible and deprived of justice. International organisations advocate for inclusion, but they fail to dismantle the exclusionary practices that perpetuate Palestinian suffering.

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My family's history reflects this displacement and struggle: my paternal grandparents were forced into Gaza during the Nakba in 1948, while my maternal grandparents were displaced from Bir al-Saba (Beersheba) during the Nakba in 1967.

Both families rebuilt their lives in an overcrowded Gaza, a place systematically turned into an open-air prison. My parents - both nurses - raised my siblings and me amid poverty, restricted movement, and repeated Israeli assaults in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021 and the latest genocide.

We lived with electricity outages, unsafe water and severe shortages of necessities, where the occupation's limitations dictated every decision. As Palestinians, we endure interrogation, discrimination and restricted movement simply for existing. A ceasefire does not erase these realities or our pain.

The global community's failure to address these systemic injustices sustains our suffering. As American philosopher Martha Nussbaum emphasises, political and economic decisions must respect "the right of other human beings to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

This principle must guide the response to the Palestinian struggle.

Shared humanity

Addressing the exclusionary practices of the nation-state system requires fostering a global identity that transcends borders and embraces shared humanity.

Justice in Palestine requires a collective movement that acknowledges everyone's inclusion and full rights

Political scientist Alexander Betts asks: "What should be provided to refugees, where and by whom?" The answer lies in building an international community that challenges stereotypes, raises awareness and supports civic engagement.

To achieve lasting justice in Palestine, the global community must step up and take tangible action on multiple fronts.

First, it is crucial to amplify Palestinian voices, countering misinformation and challenging harmful narratives that perpetuate injustice. This can be achieved through media advocacy, supporting independent journalism and giving Palestinians a platform to share their stories.

In addition, global solidarity must be mobilised to support advocacy efforts aimed at dismantling oppressive systems. International pressure can help challenge policies that infringe upon Palestinian rights and bring attention to the need for systemic change.

Humanitarian aid is another vital area. Immediate and sustainable support is necessary to address the dire needs in Gaza, providing essentials such as food, clean water, medical supplies and shelter for those caught in the conflict.

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However, aid should not just be a stopgap; the global community must commit to long-term efforts to rebuild Gaza, focusing on the restoration of infrastructure, homes, schools, hospitals and other vital services devastated by the war.

Perhaps most importantly, the world must act on behalf of marginalised communities, including Palestinians, recognising their shared humanity. By prioritising human rights and dignity, global citizens can stand in solidarity with those who have suffered for too long.

Finally, achieving true justice means challenging the status quo. The root causes of Palestinian suffering - occupation, illegal settlements and apartheid policies - must be addressed if there is to be any hope for lasting peace and equality in the region.

Justice in Palestine requires a collective movement that acknowledges everyone's inclusion and full rights. True freedom and dignity demand urgent global action.

A ceasefire is not enough; it is the first step in a much larger fight for liberation.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.

Shahd Safi is a Palestinian journalist and a human rights advocate.
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