Imagine for a moment—the walls of your home, the place you find safety, suddenly under siege. Weapons are pointed at you, and in an instant, everything you’ve built is shattered. Your sanctuary is destroyed, and bombs fall relentlessly on your loved ones. How would you even begin to cope with losing not only the things you own but also the people you cherish most? The pain is beyond comprehension.
If you’ve taken the time to truly understand the war in Palestine, you’ll know that the atrocities didn’t begin on October 7, 2023. This has been a long and painful struggle dating back to 1948 with the Nakba. Over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes during that dark year, marking the beginning of decades of oppression, violence, and displacement for the Palestinian people.
Gaza, defined as “an open prison” and under relentless siege, has faced near-constant bombardment since 2006. Innocent families have been forced from their homes, and children have been senselessly killed or taken captive without cause. Yet, the world has remained silent in the face of these injustices. What is occurring in Gaza today is a genocide.
This ongoing massacre is not only the longest but also the most widely witnessed genocide in modern history, and yet, there is still no ceasefire. If you believe this is simply a reaction to Hamas or a necessary means of protection, I urge you to look deeper. Palestinians are not just enduring warfare; they are surviving in conditions that no human being should have to bear. Their homes lie in ruins, families are torn apart, and there is a dire shortage of food, water, and medicine. It goes beyond physical devastation—the psychological impact and lasting trauma of witnessing the remains of loved ones, with melted body parts and fragments of skin scattered around your home, is indescribable. To have that as your final memory of a family member is a pain beyond words.
As a Virgin Islander, remember the devastation we faced in 2017 after hurricanes Irma and Maria. The struggle to feed our children, the delayed shipments of groceries, the fuel shortages, and the power outages- remember how traumatic that was for us. Now imagine Gaza. Not only are they experiencing all of that, but at a deeper level. Their neighborhoods crumble under the force of bombs; they are forced to witness their loved ones die. Schools and hospitals, places meant to provide refuge, are obliterated.
The trauma that Palestinians endure ripples across generations and extends to every corner of the globe, whether they are in Palestine or in another place in the world. How much longer must the world turn a blind eye to the deep-seated agony they have carried for decades? Don’t Palestinians have the right to live in peace and have freedom? Aren’t their lives just as worthy as any other life? Is their suffering not worthy of the world’s attention?
Despite the constant tears we shed as we lift our hands and pray for Palestine, the hope remains unshaken. The hope of a free Palestine lives on in our hearts forever. “Palestine will be free” is not just a statement or a dream. It is a promise. A promise that has been instilled and even rooted in us from previous generations. A promise that one day, Palestinians will wake to the sound of birds singing and the sound of the Athan (the calling of the prayer), not the deafening explosions of bombs or the cries of despair. A promise that Palestinians will be able to return to their land and rebuild their homes. A promise that one day, the world will wake up and restore the rights of the Palestinians. A promise that not only will the Palestinians’ voices be heard, but their lives will be valued. A promise that one day, Palestinians will be able to replace all the tears of sadness with joy and unity. A promise that one day, Palestinians will be able to grow up and live.
A promise that Palestine will be free, inshallah (in God’s willing).
-Dr. Nour Z. Suid, PsyD, is a Palestinian Muslim born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dr. Suid is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She graduated with her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Suid is currently working as a mental health counselor at Serenity Wellness & Counseling.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
