What does it mean to protest for Palestine?
Is that make any impact?
Despite the massive marches in which the European Muslim community, in all its segments, participates on every occasion it is invited to, to support Palestine, Al-Quds, and Al-Aqsa, many people, including some participants, pose a spontaneous and naive question: Do these marches make a difference? Do they have a real impact on supporting the Palestinian people? Does demonstrating and protesting truly serve the Palestinian cause?
It is a reasonable question to a large extent, especially when we observe crowds of onlookers on the sidelines of the marches who content themselves with watching, despite some expressing emotion and sympathy, either due to a lack of awareness of the importance of participation or out of fear stemming from various reasons, including:
Considering any collective action as involvement in politics, which means challenging authority and opposing it, and “this is our evil that we should stay away from, even without singing.”
Resignation from public affairs due to the prevalence of individualism, selfishness, and focus on personal interests, the spread of a culture of general frustration and collective indifference, and a loss of trust in the effectiveness of any position or action.
Weak official media and political mobilization for the Palestinian cause.
Considering participation as an elitist and competent act practiced by parties, elites, and civil organizations, not as a popular spontaneous duty.
Underestimating individual actions, as we have become accustomed in our world that the individual’s act has no meaning or value unless it is governing, neglecting that a group can be on the right even if you are alone, and can die for the right even if you are alone. Those who are right and solitary are the ones who shape life for people and pave the way for them.
Therefore, it is not surprising to find that even marches supporting the regime and its issues do not witness widespread participation, despite various mobilization methods employed by the state, because the behavior of taking to the streets for expression is a behavior we are not accustomed to and have not been raised on as a democratic and civilized form under Arab and European authoritarian systems.
Certainly, all forms of support provided to the Palestinian people have their utmost importance in supporting the cause, and their significance varies according to the political situation, the reality on the ground, and the nature of the stage. Marches, demonstrations, diplomatic positions, media support, and even symbolic gestures may have a greater impact than the supply of weapons, equipment, and money. The importance lies in symbolism, influence, and impact, which the Palestinian brothers highly sense and appreciate, expressing it in all their statements.
These popular mass marches carry more than one message, including:
“You are not alone”: Yes, brothers, you are not alone, brothers in creed, religion, Arabism, belonging, and destiny. We are your strategic depth and your pressing popular extension. We are your overflowing human reservoir, present and future.
“You are not wrong”: Your choice of resistance for the liberation of land and human is a legitimate right adopted by all peoples for liberation from colonization, recognized by all covenants. There is no way to liberation without resistance, even with daggers and claws.
“Muslim nations are your extension and depth”: We are your strategic depth and your pressing popular extension. We are your overflowing human reservoir, present and future.
“A message to the world and to all honorable people”: The Palestinian issue is the issue of a nation, not an isolated small people. It is a humanitarian conscience struggle where principles and values wrestle against interests and whims.
“A message to the Zionists”: You will not and will never break the determination of a people who believe in their cause, who represent their nation, and who have gained the honor of guarding the precincts of the holy land until the hour comes.
“A message to ourselves”: Palestine is a personal responsibility for every Muslim, and our duty is to defend the first and second Qibla. It is the cause of an oppressed people, and Muslims are commanded to support the oppressed, any oppressed, let alone if they are Muslims.
“A message to the peoples”: Palestine unites us despite differences, affiliations, and references. The issue is the issue of the nation above differences, conflicts, and calculations.
“A message to the younger generations to carry the torch”: Inherit the cause in all its religious, civilizational, and human dimensions, and direct the compass towards Al-Quds.
These are some of the messages that my participation in the marches for Palestine signifies, and this is my message to my people, to the people, and to the world, so that faith is strengthened and awareness deepens about the issue. This is the responsibility of intellectuals, scholars, and activists because Palestine is the essence that resides in the heart, soul, and conscience, and it is not a job that ends with every activity to be folded until renewed shelling or aggression.
Resources:
https://www.aljamaa.net/
