Sometimes, time seems to move in a vicious cycle, repeating itself in a painfully astonishing manner, as if mocking humanity’s ability to learn from its mistakes. Two images are separated by 75 years, yet they appear as though no time has passed as if the gap between them is merely a few fleeting moments.
The first image: A Palestinian elder holding the keys to his home, from which he was forcibly displaced after the Nakba of 1948. An image filled with pain, with tears that dried on faces, and hearts that collapsed under the weight of loss. Yet, hope for return still filled those hearts.
The second image: A recent photo that tells the same story, but this time, the protagonist is my young sister, Maryam, holding the keys to our home from which we were displaced after the Nakba of 2023.
There is no difference between the two stories, except that this time, the story is even harsher and more painful.
History seems to repeat itself, but this time, it comes with a level of suffering that humanity has never witnessed before. The killing and destruction that have ravaged both the land and its people have become more brutal at a time when many believed humanity had learned from the lessons of the past.
I'm human, and I'm asking you to act from your humanity.
For those of you who don't know (and please correct me if I'm wrong), the Nakba (Arabic for 'catastrophe') refers to the violent displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948, in which 78% of their land was colonized and 80% of their people were ethnically cleansed. Many Palestinians still kept the keys to their home as they were violently and forcibly displaced and exiled, but they could no longer return to their homes as they were either destroyed or taken by settlers.
As Israel continues to commit genocide in Gaza, people have started to refer this genocide as Nakba as well, drawing parallels to the displacement, massacres and other atrocities that happened today and in 1948.
Just a reminder that the violence and atrocity committed towards Palestinians did not start in 2023.
(I think this Instagram post explains it pretty well)
As we take in the atrocities happening in Gaza, it is good to remember that we have the ability to help! Please consider donating to Darine and her family! Their home has been destroyed and they have been fundraising since February!
Darine's campaign is vetted by @/gazavetters and #15 on their vetted gfm list, promoted by nabulsi here and here and also vetted by association!
They have been fundraising since February but still only $6,868 USD raised of $30K target!!
You can enter my freshwater pearl necklace raffle if you donate to this fundraiser!