I’m a Palestinian citizen of Israel. Right now, that’s as complex as you could possibly imagine

Let’s be clear: one can support Palestinians’ right to resist and end the occupation without supporting Hamas

One thing that unites Palestinians is that our journey is never easy or smooth. To be a Palestinian citizen in Israel is exceptionally challenging – especially at the moment, when people expect you to take a clear, one-sided stance. I am forced to constantly question where I truly belong, feeling nowhere and everywhere simultaneously.

I was born and raised in Nazareth in a Christian family. Later, I moved to Tel Aviv, living in a diverse community with Arabs and Jews. Although I was born in Israel, I struggle to identify fully with a country that views me as a second-class citizen, publicly speaks against Arabs, oppresses Palestinians – and the list goes on.

I do not condone violence in the name of religion. I cannot endorse or identify with Hamas’s attack on innocent civilians on 7 October. Despite being a proud Palestinian who supports oppressed communities and actively speaks out against Israeli occupation and colonialism, this attack on Israeli civilians does not align with my beliefs – I condemn killing civilians and deeply mourn the loss of lives among Palestinians and Israelis.

Taking a stand as a Palestinian may seem complicated, but Hamas doesn’t speak for me. Hamas fails to represent Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and around the world. While the world often frames this “conflict” as Israel versus Palestine or Judaism versus Islam, the reality is much more complicated. This is about the people, not leaders who show no concern for civilians. Let’s be clear: one can support Palestinians’ right to resist and end the occupation without supporting Hamas.

Many of my Israeli friends are affected by this attack, and the fact that friends of friends are still missing or dead breaks my heart. Facing such an attack at a party or in the safety of one’s home is unimaginable. The situation becomes even more devastating when we reflect on the ongoing tragedy in Gaza, where nearly half of the population are children. The stark contrast is that Israelis have the option to run away, while Palestinians in Gaza are trapped: they have no way to escape. It was surreal to hear Benjamin Netanyahu’s order to evacuate: how does one leave an open-air prison?

The idea that anyone would celebrate the deaths of innocent people – whether Israeli or Gazan – puzzles me. Empathy should be universal. Hate will only lead to more hate, causing further suffering. Unfortunately, leaders from all sides, including Hamas, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, are displaying no real concern for their people.

When I expressed my confusion on social media, I faced hateful and threatening comments from Israelis. On the other hand, when I showed empathy towards my Israeli friends, my Palestinian friends questioned my stance. But I stand with oppressed people and innocent civilians whoever they are. No justification exists for collective punishment and killing.

Some may believe that Hamas is the sole problem here, yet it’s vital to understand that ethnic cleansing and military occupation of Palestinian land existed long before Hamas came into existence. According to Amnesty International, the world’s leading human rights organisation: “Israel imposes a system of oppression and domination against Palestinians across all areas under its control.” According to B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories: “The Israeli regime enacts in all the territory it controls an apartheid regime.”

As an Arab citizen of Israel, I am deeply concerned about the national security ministry’s relaxation of gun laws for ordinary Israelis after the Hamas attacks, and the threats posed by extremist Jewish groups. Since 7 October, 64 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including a man and his son who were shot dead while attending a funeral. I vividly recall the horrifying scenes in May 2021, when the streets were like a civil war. No innocent civilian should die for their beliefs or opinions.

Supporting Palestine does not equate to antisemitism – advocating for ending Israeli aggression against Palestine doesn’t imply forgetting the historical experiences and pain of the Jewish people. Today, Zionism’s goals come at the cost of Arab lives, leaving us feeling insecure, afraid to voice our opinions and hesitant to empathise with our suffering people. Reflecting on recent events, Israeli citizens have protested against their own government’s shift towards dictatorship.

Being an Arab in Israel involves understanding the language and history of the “other side”. This phrasing highlights the oppressor-oppressed dynamic, with one side having one of the most powerful armies in the world and the other being a minority. Therefore, when discussing recent events, we cannot ignore the years of occupation and invasion, and how Israel has treated Arabs. This is not to justify Hamas’s actions but to provide context for Palestinians’ pain and suffering without protection.

Ultimately, the people pay the price from all sides. With rising global support for Israel, I fear for innocent Palestinians. Those in power are to blame. Now is the time for people to unite against oppressive governments. Palestine should be freed not only from the oppressive Israeli regime but also from the influence of Hamas, and its conservative, chauvinistic ideology.

• Maria Rashed is a freelance journalist

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