Voice From Gaza: The Unyielding Spirit of Palestinian Women
Courtesy of Etimad Abu Jalal and Noor Abu Mariam.
The Gaza Strip has witnessed multiple wars, during which women have shown remarkable resilience, sacrifice, and endurance. However, in the latest conflict—which, at the time of writing, has entered its 351st day since the “Al-Aqsa Flood”—a different reality has been imposed on every family in Gaza. At the head of each family stands an extraordinary woman, resilient in her patience and strength. And within each family, there is a young girl, full of hope and ambition, dreaming of her future. She envisions her graduation—the ceremony, the gown, and the invited guests.
From my tent, I watch the young girls of my family, friends, and neighbors in nearby camps as they begin their day. Once, they had access to comfortable bathrooms, facial cleansers, body soap, creams, beauty products, perfumes, and beautiful clothes and shoes. Now, I see them sitting in front of a water barrel, opening the tap—sometimes finding water, but often not, as water is scarce and must be fetched from far away. They try to wash their faces, brush their teeth, change their clothes, and wash them with detergents that barely resemble proper washing powder. Their hands are dry, their veins cold from the harsh weather. I watch them as they try to help with chores, in a grimy tent that has stolen our hope and life.
On the other hand, I see within them a patience and endurance, as if they were born and molded to endure hardships without losing their composure. In the early days of the war, Gaza's girls refused to accept the constant displacement from one place to another. Pain consumed them. Their faces were pale, and their spirits felt trapped in every corner of the camp, the city, and their homeland. They expressed their frustration, fell into depression, became isolated, lost their passion, and even experienced menstrual disorders, worsening their deteriorating mental state. The fear of having their university studies interrupted alone was enough to stop their hearts. Their future seemed lost, and they had no idea where they were headed.
Courtesy of Etimad Abu Jalal and Noor Abu Mariam.
Days passed, and every time they adapted to a new tent at a new location, an evacuation order would come—the tent was, again, in a combat zone. With great difficulty and at a high cost, they moved to one after another unfamiliar displacement site. The mere search for a place to purchase food and to acquire water for washing and bathing—let alone for drinking—made them hate life and wish for martyrdom. Yet, the determination and patience of our beautiful girls refused to let life stop. Life must go on.
Suddenly, good news arrived: universities announced registration for studies and online education, taking the girls into another world and reviving hope in their exhausted spirits. Despite the difficulties of accessing the internet, downloading lectures, and keeping up with exam schedules, the joy of returning to their studies has been evident on their faces. Their happiness, however, is also mixed with fear of an internet outage during exams or being forced to relocate again.
Courtesy of Etimad Abu Jalal and Noor Abu Mariam.
Other beautiful moments fill me with pride and reassurance. After eleven long months, I can sense the girls’ emotions stirring. I see their unease in their constant discussion of a haunting question: “How long will we remain away from our homes, our city, our belongings, and our memories?” Time and time again, they sought answers through the news, political analyses, and predictions. Yet, in the end, they have accepted what God has written for them. Their discontent with fate has faded, as they reached the conviction that time will pass as ordained by God.
The second feeling that assured me they had reached a stage of accepting reality, despite its bitterness, was their strong desire to help those in need. They actively sought out institutions and organizations that provide aid to the displaced, as well as educational programs offering basic classes, eager to volunteer and make a positive impact.
The third feeling that caught my attention was the weaving of beautiful and constructive family relationships in the displacement camps, creating a joyful and entertaining atmosphere. These beautiful girls brought humor, laughter, and joy by making sweets or pastries and celebrating birthdays in the simplest yet most genuine ways, expressing their inner beauty and kindness.
Here in Gaza, we must be something different and distinctive. We must stand firm and heal the wounds left by this cursed war on each of us. Despite all circumstances, Gaza’s girls remain capable of optimism for a better tomorrow, continuing to dream of returning home, even if it takes time.
Translated by Noor Abu Mariam, a writer from Gaza.