Imagination Or Reality?
Can you imagine being forced to prove your life's worth to others? Can you imagine screaming at a screen between outfit-of-the-day videos, hoping someone behind it can break the silence? Can you imagine scouring the Internet for the latest trends, sounds, and words that might just market your need to live better? Children who beg to please watch for one more second, their words being sliced up in editing as they can’t speak their mother tongue. It won’t work otherwise. Families record videos day in and day out, with the little resources they have left to prove their innocence, their scarce and frightening world. Pleading for one more chance at life.
Except you don’t have to imagine. This is the reality for many Palestinians trapped in Gaza as you’re reading this. No, even reality isn’t enough.
The word reality is a deceptive word that momentarily sings like a sticky lollipop giving a hint of sweetness — a hint of false comfort. As if we truly know their struggles.
As if you know what it’s like to have your body vacuumed of any nutrients, your ears bleeding from the whirring drones, your heart aching to have one last hug, one last moment with your loved one that was taken from a bomb that came too close. As if you know the crushing stones stinging your back every night, the cold, icy frost biting your skin, and the humid, hot air that boils your body in the merciless sun. The rockets shattering the earth. The flies plucking at your skin. The wailing of grieving children. The long queue for bread. As if you know the irrationality drilling into your stomach, and therefore, your mind, soul, and being when every part of your life is inhumane. No, you can’t imagine their reality.
You can’t.
The Genocide in Palestine persists for 8 months. Eight. Months.
And unfortunately along the way (or fortunately if you are the Israeli or American government), many have become desensitized to the brutal killing of innocent children, women, and men in Gaza.
I unfortunately was one of them. Please forgive me for talking about myself, but I sobbed after writing the beginning of this article. Because we truly can’t fathom the truest extent of horror they’re going through. What I wrote is only scraping the surface.
Nour Elassy, a young Palestinian writer in Gaza, describes the recent horrific scenes.
Enough! By Nour Elassy
a content girl see the good in the bad
but after 8 months of this brutal genocide
I can’t
will you blame me?
a baby with a diaper on but no head
a grown man searching for his body parts
fetus killed in his mother’s womb
mother say farewell for her child
woman in love becomes a widow
wild dog unleashed on a helpless elderly
discontent girl
I cannot keep on writing these words
let alone living them
enough!
Enough is enough. And while I ended with “you can’t”, you can still help and support them.
Below I’ve attached important Instagram accounts, including Palestinians who are holding donation campaigns for their need of basic necessities, finishing their education, and other goals. It also includes charities that can provide on-the-ground assistance.
Please donate whatever amount you can. If not, you can engage and boost their posts so that they can reach more people. It’s the least we can do.
Donate/Boost
@operationolivebranch | @thepcrf
@abu__wesam23 | @marah.massrigaza
@salimalbrim27 | @abdullah_barhom
@khaled_f_sultan2024
Live from Gaza & Content Hubs
@wizard_bisan1| @joegaza93
@hani.aburezeq | @reachyusuf
@eye.on.palestine
@theimeu | @mondoweiss
@cravingpalestine | @qudsnen
Analysis
@mohammedelkurd | @gazangirl
@anat.international | @byplestia
@adnan_barq | @sbeih.jpg
@jenanmatari | @propagandavstruth
Read my previous articles on Palestine:
