On October 10, Palestinians and their supporters will mark 1,100 days since the genocide in Gaza began. This somber milestone underscores the prolonged suffering of the Palestinian people, who have endured 78 years of dispossession, displacement, and occupation. The count of days has become a poignant accusation, emphasizing the inaction of governments and the ongoing wait for the world's promises to materialize.
The history of Palestine cannot be reduced to a single event or date. In 1947, over 750,000 Palestinians were uprooted from their homes during the Nakba, shattering a closely knit society and separating people from their towns, villages, and livelihoods. The legacy of this displacement continues to affect generations of Palestinians, who have inherited the loss and demand for justice.
The occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza in 1967 further entrenched control over Palestinians, restricting movement, settlement expansion, and blockade of Gaza. These decades of occupation and dispossession are interconnected, with older injuries festering within newer ones. For families already displaced, subsequent orders to leave carry a weight of history that cannot be contained by the language of evacuation.
Despite the overwhelming suffering, Palestinians have continued to build lives, teach, write, plant, argue, love, organize, and care for one another. It is essential to recognize their full humanity, including agency and authority to speak about their liberation. Solidarity begins with acknowledging their aspirations, disagreements, skills, and right to shape their own future.
In September 2025, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The commission identified killings, serious bodily and mental harm, deliberate destruction of conditions necessary for life, and measures intended to prevent births. These findings highlight the destruction of a people's ability to survive and continue as a community.
The international community has a duty to prevent genocide, which arises when a state knows or should know of a serious risk. Governments must utilize available means to help prevent genocide and cannot wait for a final judgment to act. The International Court of Justice concluded in July 2024 that Israel's continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful and must end as rapidly as possible.
Silence and inaction can be forms of complicity, with governments having a greater capacity to influence events than individuals struggling to survive. The damage of inaction extends beyond Palestine, eroding the global order and credibility of promises to protect vulnerable populations. The answer lies in making universal principles real through consistent action, rather than abandoning them and leaving people facing domination with fewer protections.
Key points
- The 1,100 days since the Gaza genocide began highlight the prolonged suffering of Palestinians.
- The history of Palestine encompasses 78 years of dispossession, displacement, and occupation.
- International law and treaties emphasize the duty to prevent genocide and the need for governments to act.
