End the siege of Gaza now if an explosion is to be avoided

I am certain that the patience of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is running out, and there is no longer any time for further procrastination over ending the Israeli-led siege that has harmed every human being in the occupied territory. Even essential medicine and food are very costly these days.

There are thousands of homes where families go to sleep quietly without dinner, and there is no money to feed the children. Illnesses go untreated because there is no money to pay the doctors and hospitals. Parents are frustrated because they cannot afford to send their children to university and give them a theoretical better chance in life as graduates.

We have reached this point due to the Zionist occupation’s unjust siege over many years, which is no longer acceptable to our people and the factions. That’s why thousands of men and women took to the streets on the anniversary of the 1969 arson attack against Al-Aqsa Mosque. They gravitated towards the nominal eastern border, sending a clear message that the Palestinians have run out of patience and will direct their anger at the Israelis. It is they who are responsible for this siege and its devastating effects on our lives.

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The message is that we will not be silent any longer, and we will not suffer alone after this. The coming explosion will turn into a mass of flames that will reach the enemies in Israel and give them a dose of their own medicine. It’s what the Israelis have been inflicting upon us day and night for decades, not just during the siege.

Events in May, especially the Sword of Jerusalem Battle, allowed the resistance groups to impose a new reality, not least that we Palestinians are one people, no matter where we live. If Israel attacks any of us, the rest will rise up in their defence. This was demonstrated by Gaza’s defence of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the support from our people in the occupied Palestinian territories for Jerusalem and Gaza.

Furthermore, the resistance is now able to reach any part of the occupation state and bring it to a standstill, as happened in May. The resistance missiles reached the airport, military sites and the gas facilities on the coast. The advanced capabilities of the resistance shocked the Israeli enemies.

That is why we insist that there is no more time for procrastination over lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip, stopping the attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque and ending the expulsion of our people from their homes in Jerusalem. If the expected explosion happens, it will be too late for mediation.

This article first appeared in Arabic in the Palestinian Information Centre on 23 August 2021

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.