It’s another fine autumn day here. I’ve even hung a bit of washing on the line. I’ve been for a run round the village, answered some emails and messages and suddenly it’s almost midday.
Here are a couple of things I copied from social media yesterday about the ongoing Gaza situation:
“Twice they were forced out. Twice they were driven from their homes in the North — first in the early days of the genocide, then again when Israel carpet-bombed Gaza City.
Imagine losing everything once.
Now imagine losing everything twice — your home, your neighborhood, your memories — on top of your loved ones who were massacred in the process.
And yet… look at them now.
With the ceasefire, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are marching back north — not to safety, not to comfort, not to intact homes — but to rubble, ashes, and the stench of death.
They are not returning because life has been restored.
They are returning because even ruins are still theirs.
This is what steadfastness looks like.
A people who have nothing left — yet still refuse to surrender.
Palestine does not die.
It walks back home. 🇵🇸”
“With the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire now in motion—hostages released and aid flowing—many see relief. But the real question is: will this bring liberation or simply repackage occupation?
Assal Rad (@assalrad_), DAWN Fellow and scholar of modern Middle Eastern history, told DAWN:
“Anything that stops Israel’s daily slaughter in Gaza is welcome. But without full Israeli withdrawal and Palestinian self-determination to decide their future, it remains occupation and colonial violence by another name.”
Her words underscore that what’s needed is not only an end to bombs, but an end to control—the sovereignty to decide one’s own fate.”
As Assal Rad says, the danger is that the much vaunted (in the mainstream media) ceasefire could just end up being just a new packaging for the same old oppression of one people by another.
We shall see.
I’m doing a bit of escapist shopping with my daughter today, putting the troubles of the world to one side.
And here’s something I wanted to share as it cheered me up:
“In Navajo culture, laughter is seen as a powerful symbol of connection. The moment a baby laughs for the first time, it is believed they are choosing to join the human community. Until then, the baby is viewed as still being in transition between the spiritual and physical worlds.
This tradition, known as the A’wee Chi’deedloh ceremony, is typically observed around three months of age. Family members pay close attention during this period, eager to be the one who makes the child laugh. Whoever succeeds earns the honor of hosting the celebration, often preparing a meal of salted food and gifts to mark the occasion.
The ceremony not only celebrates the baby’s first expression of joy, but also emphasizes generosity and community. Salt is symbolically offered to guests to encourage the child to grow up to be generous and kind. It’s one of the earliest social teachings given to a Navajo child—using joy as a path toward belonging and humanity.”
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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