by Mahmoud Mushtaha at +972 Magazine
Khaled Al-Dawoodi sits on the floor of a crowded room at his neighbor’s house in southern Gaza, watching a grainy TV screen. A generator hums in the background, and the smell of kerosene hangs in the air. The news is playing a clip of President Donald Trump standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and saying, “We’re going to take over the Gaza Strip. We’ll own it.”
Al-Dawoodi shakes his head. His home was bombed months ago by the Israeli army, and he has been forced to move from one shelter to another with his wife and three children ever since. He lets out a dry laugh. “Take over Gaza? Haven’t they already?”
Trump’s words, uttered with characteristic nonchalance, have sparked shock and outrage around the world. Some dismiss his proposal as just another soundbite. Others warn of the deeper ramifications for regional stability. Human rights groups call it a clear violation of international law.
Yet in Gaza, most people barely blinked. Fifteen months of relentless Israeli bombing and siege have left the Strip in ruins. Hunger is everywhere. The healthcare system has collapsed. Even with the ceasefire, there is still a severe shortage of clean water and fuel, and no way out.
Besides, Palestinians have heard this kind of talk for generations:…
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