Far from your reach, in a place your eyes cannot touch, lies a land you do not know as well as you should. You don’t need to go there to feel it—not because you haven’t seen it, but because Gaza is more than that

Far from your reach, in a place your eyes cannot touch, lies a land you do not know as well as you should. You don’t need to go there to feel it—not because you haven’t seen it, but because Gaza is more than that; it resides deep within you. It is in every moment that passes through your heart, often unnoticed. In the moments you smile for no reason, you find it within you. And in the moments you think you are distant, Gaza draws nearer. It is not just a spot on the map.

Have you ever felt as though something unfamiliar is pumping through your heart, something you cannot trace back to its origin? Something that moves within you without your control? That feeling arises whenever you think of Gaza or when you sit quietly and close your eyes. You don’t see it with your eyes, but you feel it deeply. It’s not a sudden sensation but one that enters you quietly, like an old, profound scent—unseen but present in every corner of your mind.

When you hear a sound that reminds you of Gaza, you might find yourself taking an involuntary deep breath. That’s because you know something more profound than a mere image or story is reaching you. It’s not just the pain you feel but a voice whispering within your subconscious, offering glimpses of truth. The truth we often overlook is that Gaza is not just a battle—it’s a struggle against time and life itself. The land there pulses with every moment, but it never remains the same. It changes with each passing second, as if inhaling the world’s tragic sighs, pulsating fiercely with every child’s breath and every martyr’s fall.

Imagine, for a moment, sitting in silence when suddenly the image of a child’s eyes in Gaza appears before you. Eyes ablaze with endless sorrow beneath a faint but resilient smile. Isn’t it strange how such an image seeps into you unnoticed? How this child you’ve never met becomes a part of every cell in your body? You follow them despite the distance, breathing in their murmurs despite the miles. You witness their smiles, safeguarded by Gaza, though it is a city built of blood and rubble.

You may not realize it, but your mind continues to absorb every thought, every feeling, as if you are engulfed by an invisible wave. Gaza, despite the bloodshed, death, and destruction, remains alive in every beat of your heart. Have you ever felt pain that isn’t yours? A pain you cannot explain—a pain that tears at your heart every time you think of Palestine? It’s a pain that sneaks into your deepest corners, stirring emotions you cannot suppress. And the more you think, the stranger it becomes: Gaza weaves itself into you as if you’ve become part of its struggle.

Guilt accompanies you at every moment because now you’re part of that memory. Not because you can change what’s happening but because you wonder how your heart can bear all these images. How can you remain the same after seeing those innocent faces and small hands clinging to life, even as life itself abandons them?

Have you ever wondered why this pain doesn’t leave you? Perhaps you don’t realize it, but this pain has taken up residence in your mind, becoming your constant companion. The tears you see, the unforgettable faces, the children who have known peace only in their graves… Pain that seems eternal. And every time you try to cleanse your heart of it, Gaza creeps back into you, coming closer and closer.

Are you ready now to live through all this? Are you ready to be part of the battle this people face? The images of Gaza, as you encounter them, become a part of you. They’re not just about what your eyes see but what your soul feels within. That feeling never fades, that call your heart hears. You don’t see it, but you feel it, as though you are living it.

In this world, Gaza is your soul. It’s as if you fight its battle without weapons or barriers—just with deep, aching emotions. Do you now understand that Gaza, despite everything, still fills your heart? After all these words, can you forget? No, you won’t forget. This moment will resonate within you, and your heart will continue to beat in sync with the land there.

Khaled Darawsheh – Jordan