What does it mean to be a Gazan during Ramadan What does it mean to fast when you have not eaten in days when the bread you can get is made from ground animal feed and fistfuls of grass What does it mean to search for a place to pray in solitude when every wall has been reduced
Very powerful message. As someone of a Hindu upbringing, but having raised in the Middle East for a great part of my early life, having had fasted with my Muslim brothers in their homes, and their families with whom I broke fast with after the last prayer, this resonates with me personally. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you - I'm glad this is resonating. I expected more pushback but I'm hopeful that this means that more people are actually seeing Palestinians as human, finally.
Absolutely agree. Unfortunately not everyone feels this way. I got a comment this morning from someone who's clearly lost her humanity saying all Gazans are complicit, essentially blaming them for their own destruction. Trauma on trauma.
Exactly what I was thinking- babies, small children, even teenagers. People who are 25 now were 8 the last time there were elections in Gaza. Even then, Hana’s didn’t win a majority of votes, just more than anyone else. This is without factoring in the fact that they were approaching things from a primarily political rather than military perspective at the time, that the facts clearly show that Netanyahu propped them up for years, OR the fact that we would never apply the standard of ‘you voted for a group that’s committed violence so we are allowed to kill you all’ to anybody else!!!
Imagine if we said anyone who voted for an American president who bombed another country deserved to die!!! It’s so clearly disgusting, and yet it’s acceptable when talking about Gazans.
💔 Thanks for sharing. I feel so sad going into Ramadan but I saw photos the other day of Gazans decorating tents in preparation and that made me smile. A friend reminded me of our obligation to celebrate the month for what it is. In sha Allah we can try to imagine we are with them when we eat.
I saw that too. It makes me want to cry - what incredible strength they have. I keep asking God for their safety and reward, and to be accepted with them
My congregations asks for prayers every week for everyone suffering in Gaza. Many of us in the US are frustrated that the Apache helicopters you write about are made here and funded by our tax dollars. Our influence is small, but I do sense a shift in policy towards a ceasefire and moving away from the Netanyahu government. Such great suffering may finally lead to real and lasting change, but it is so hard to hold this in prayer right now.
I am hoping for a big shift but I am glad to see small shifts. The proposed 6 week ceasefire proposal is a joke and an insult, but it's also an indication that the government is feeling the pressure. Now we just have to keep the pressure on until they move to a true, lasting peace. I'm so glad to hear your congregation is engaged. Blessings and love to all of you.
What beautiful--and heartbreaking--comments, Noha. I struggle to find words that could bring comfort, but they all feel like platitudes. I cling to the thought that this war wiil eventually end and that maybe--just maybe--the Palestinians wiil finally have their own state.
Thanks Clarice. I hope and pray for the same things. Don't worry if they feel like platitudes. I still appreciate them, and more importantly, anyone speaking out is better than silence. Those in power will only change things when they feel enough pressure from us "normals".
Every time I sit to eat I feel the despair for those with no food. Thank you for posting this. I can only hope it will raise awareness to those who are not paying attention and it links to all I am feeling. I am fortified today to continue to work for peace in the small ways I can from my corner of the planet.
I feel the same. With every meal. Since I can’t send food directly, I donate as I can, hoping the money reaches Gaza in some form, instead of my tax dollars funding bloodshed and murder.
This is...I don't want to say beautiful because that doesn't feel complete enough. I need a word that encompasses beauty, power, and sadness. Thank you also for sharing that speech.
Thank you for making me feel so deeply this morning, Noha. This poem is incredibly powerful: images I've seen again and again are hitting me harder than they ever have.
Painfully beautiful words. I'm grateful I've read them after seeing those horrendous leaflets the occupation threw at starving Gazans to mock Ramadan. And Mohammad El-Kurd is a unique voice I'm always glad to listen to.
I'm not Muslim. Yesterday, a dear Muslim friend of mine sent me a message, "Can you give me your address please? Ramadan is starting and I'd like to send you a present." I just sat there and tears started pouring like a waterfall because this beautiful woman thinks I'm worthy of a present. I grew up not knowing anything of Islam, in a post 9/11 islamophobic world, and I grieve the ignorance I was raised with. In the last few months the lessons learnt from Palestine and my Muslim friends completely changed me.
Ramadan mubarak, dear Noha. I will pray for this Ramadan to be blessed for all, especially Palestinians.
Oh Ramona, that's so touching of your friend to do that. It's beautiful that you have each other.
I saw the pictures of those leaflets too, and then I saw another poor child who'd died of forced starvation in the very next post on my scroll. It's devastating and infuriating all at once. Thank you for the well wishes. I'm praying for peaceful Ramadan too and I'll say Ramadan Mubarak to you too even if you don't celebrate. 🖤🖤🖤
Very powerful message. As someone of a Hindu upbringing, but having raised in the Middle East for a great part of my early life, having had fasted with my Muslim brothers in their homes, and their families with whom I broke fast with after the last prayer, this resonates with me personally. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Raj. We're all brothers and sisters. I wish the world could see that.
shattering and beautiful and vital
This. Every word.
thanks Alex.
Thanks Dia.
“God tells us the prayers of the oppressed
reach Him in the sky
faster than the bombs
reach the hospitals”
This is stunning, Noha. I will also listen to the speech when I get a chance.
Thank you, Shaina. I'm glad it moved you.
Just, wow. Thank you for writing and sharing this. So powerful, yet so devastating.
Thank you - I'm glad this is resonating. I expected more pushback but I'm hopeful that this means that more people are actually seeing Palestinians as human, finally.
Any pushback would be obscenely criminal. Genocide is genocide, let’s call it by its name. Your words are devastating and beautiful.
Absolutely agree. Unfortunately not everyone feels this way. I got a comment this morning from someone who's clearly lost her humanity saying all Gazans are complicit, essentially blaming them for their own destruction. Trauma on trauma.
It is impossible to comprehend. Thank you for posting consistently, Noha.💜
It really is. Thank you for your solidarity, Mya.
Especially the babies who had the gall to be born in Gaza... 🙄 This is a 20-trauma mattress stackup, for sure.
Exactly what I was thinking- babies, small children, even teenagers. People who are 25 now were 8 the last time there were elections in Gaza. Even then, Hana’s didn’t win a majority of votes, just more than anyone else. This is without factoring in the fact that they were approaching things from a primarily political rather than military perspective at the time, that the facts clearly show that Netanyahu propped them up for years, OR the fact that we would never apply the standard of ‘you voted for a group that’s committed violence so we are allowed to kill you all’ to anybody else!!!
Imagine if we said anyone who voted for an American president who bombed another country deserved to die!!! It’s so clearly disgusting, and yet it’s acceptable when talking about Gazans.
I am so glad this is resonating with folks. As someone said above, this is vital.
Me too.
💔 Thanks for sharing. I feel so sad going into Ramadan but I saw photos the other day of Gazans decorating tents in preparation and that made me smile. A friend reminded me of our obligation to celebrate the month for what it is. In sha Allah we can try to imagine we are with them when we eat.
I saw that too. It makes me want to cry - what incredible strength they have. I keep asking God for their safety and reward, and to be accepted with them
Ameen.
My congregations asks for prayers every week for everyone suffering in Gaza. Many of us in the US are frustrated that the Apache helicopters you write about are made here and funded by our tax dollars. Our influence is small, but I do sense a shift in policy towards a ceasefire and moving away from the Netanyahu government. Such great suffering may finally lead to real and lasting change, but it is so hard to hold this in prayer right now.
I am hoping for a big shift but I am glad to see small shifts. The proposed 6 week ceasefire proposal is a joke and an insult, but it's also an indication that the government is feeling the pressure. Now we just have to keep the pressure on until they move to a true, lasting peace. I'm so glad to hear your congregation is engaged. Blessings and love to all of you.
What beautiful--and heartbreaking--comments, Noha. I struggle to find words that could bring comfort, but they all feel like platitudes. I cling to the thought that this war wiil eventually end and that maybe--just maybe--the Palestinians wiil finally have their own state.
Thanks Clarice. I hope and pray for the same things. Don't worry if they feel like platitudes. I still appreciate them, and more importantly, anyone speaking out is better than silence. Those in power will only change things when they feel enough pressure from us "normals".
Every time I sit to eat I feel the despair for those with no food. Thank you for posting this. I can only hope it will raise awareness to those who are not paying attention and it links to all I am feeling. I am fortified today to continue to work for peace in the small ways I can from my corner of the planet.
I feel the same. With every meal. Since I can’t send food directly, I donate as I can, hoping the money reaches Gaza in some form, instead of my tax dollars funding bloodshed and murder.
Birgitte I just realized I initially missed this comment. Thank you thank you thank you for giving 🖤🖤
Amen amen amen. Keep working and I will too. Here for you if you feel like you need solidarity to keep at it.
This is...I don't want to say beautiful because that doesn't feel complete enough. I need a word that encompasses beauty, power, and sadness. Thank you also for sharing that speech.
I know what you mean, Rea. It's hard to find words. There are so many and also too few.
Tears. And gratitude.
Have mercy...
Gratitude to you for reading and witnessing.
Thank you for making me feel so deeply this morning, Noha. This poem is incredibly powerful: images I've seen again and again are hitting me harder than they ever have.
Thank you Isabel. I think we have to be hit hard. Your reaction tells you that your heart still beats and feels. Much love.
So moving, Noha. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jeffrey. I appreciate you so much.
💔💔💔
I feel your pain, Maia.
My heart. Devastating and powerful words, both your poem and the speech by Mohammed El-Kurd. Thank you so much for sharing.
Ily Jen. Thanks for holding this with me from the beginning
Thank you so much for sharing this piece.
Thank you for reading and being here.
Painfully beautiful words. I'm grateful I've read them after seeing those horrendous leaflets the occupation threw at starving Gazans to mock Ramadan. And Mohammad El-Kurd is a unique voice I'm always glad to listen to.
I'm not Muslim. Yesterday, a dear Muslim friend of mine sent me a message, "Can you give me your address please? Ramadan is starting and I'd like to send you a present." I just sat there and tears started pouring like a waterfall because this beautiful woman thinks I'm worthy of a present. I grew up not knowing anything of Islam, in a post 9/11 islamophobic world, and I grieve the ignorance I was raised with. In the last few months the lessons learnt from Palestine and my Muslim friends completely changed me.
Ramadan mubarak, dear Noha. I will pray for this Ramadan to be blessed for all, especially Palestinians.
Oh Ramona, that's so touching of your friend to do that. It's beautiful that you have each other.
I saw the pictures of those leaflets too, and then I saw another poor child who'd died of forced starvation in the very next post on my scroll. It's devastating and infuriating all at once. Thank you for the well wishes. I'm praying for peaceful Ramadan too and I'll say Ramadan Mubarak to you too even if you don't celebrate. 🖤🖤🖤