A way to Gaza

For the past two years, I’ve made an effort to read novels, stories, and biographies that reflect the century-long tragedy of the Palestinian people. These works have helped me internalize what it means to be occupied, uprooted, exiled, and to resist—to hold on to the belief that death itself can be defied. They’ve also deepened my understanding of how Israel fuels its terror, land theft, and genocide through social engineering.

Radwa Ashour’s The Woman from Tantura, Haj Amin al-Husseini: From Jerusalem to Beirut, Peren Bir Saygılı Mut’s Izz al-Din al-Qassam, Kenizé Mourad’s Our Sacred Land, and most recently, Nathan Thrall’s A Day in the Life of Abed Salama, which deeply shook me—these are among the books I’ve read. Thrall’s novel tells the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a layered analysis, exploring the tension between human stories and major political decisions. (I will definitely write a detailed piece about this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel from 2024 later on.)

What have I learned from all this reading? My view on how Israel can be defeated—what with and how—has become clearer. But before that, we must acknowledge this: Zionism is a belief system that cannot be reasoned with, not even within the framework of peace talks. Even if agreements are made on paper, it will never honor them. It will never accept a two-state solution under any conditions. Its one and only ultimate goal is to erase the Palestinian people entirely—and it is so rigid in this aim that it cannot even tolerate well-intentioned gestures.

What we’re facing is a determined, devout, and powerful religious state. And standing in its way are only the Palestinians, the people of Gaza—steadfast, faithful, courageous human beings whose only power lies in their belief. As for the rest of us, we’ve been busy distracting ourselves. Still are. But something is shifting. I’m talking about the search for a way—any way—to reach Gaza. We are witnessing an awakening, one that Israel probably fears most. A surge of courage is building.

Humanity is seeking ways to breach the walls of fear Israel has built and reach Gaza. Just the other day, the Madleen ship detained in the Mediterranean—with its 12-person crew—charted a path for us. Israel’s seizure of the ship and its passengers was not a surrender or a failed attempt. On the contrary, it served as both a roadmap to Gaza and a demonstration that Israel can be defeated not by states, but by a “coalition of conscience.”

So how will this happen? Now, more than 600 days into the genocide, can ordinary people stop Israel—an entity that has ignored every political and economic sanction?

If, in the truest sense of the word, a “coalition of conscience” emerges—one that touches people’s souls and aims solely to confront Israel—the course of world history could change. The departure of Madleen, its heading toward Gaza, marked a threshold. If twelve people were willing to risk their lives, knowing Israel might attack them just like it did those aboard the Mavi Marmara, then thousands, even hundreds of thousands, could find that same courage.

If hundreds of boats, yachts, and vessels were to set course for Gaza from every port, marina, and dock in the Mediterranean, how could Israel stop that wave? Yes, they’ll threaten to strike, to kill. But what if people no longer consider their lives more valuable than those in Gaza? What if people from East and West, North and South—countless individuals from across the world—take to the road to defy death itself? Would Israel still choose to kill? No doubt, yes. But they couldn’t kill enough. Because it would defy the laws of physics. And remember, this is the same Israel that hasn’t been able to wipe out the Palestinian people in 80 years, that hasn’t moved their resistance even an inch, that is terrified even by the names of Gaza’s brave fallen commanders. And I’m not even talking about fighting back—just showing up would be enough.

There is a way. A path that demands courage. And it appears that the fate of the world now rests in the hands of brave civilians. This will be a force beyond states, beyond international institutions—a vast mobilization that will isolate Israel and transform it into a pariah.

For 600 days, humanity has been mentally and morally rejecting Israel. And now, we have no option left but to take to every sea and land route to Gaza. In the coming days, those walking toward the Rafah border from Egypt will also cross a threshold… Let us not underestimate what’s happening—humanity is rising, wave after wave, to stand before Israel.

If there’s another way, let someone say it.