Palestinian women: a history of female resistance in Gaza and the West Bank
Maria
Holt, The Conversation, May 18, 2018
Outside
observers tend to imagine the face of Gaza as resolutely male: the bearded
Hamas “militant”, or the young man hurling stones across the border fence. But
Palestinian women, both in Gaza and the West Bank, have a significant presence
as activists, protesting against an unjust occupation, but also as the backbone
of a fragmented and demoralised society.
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Woman on
the march. Dominika
Zarzycka/Shutterstock.
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After the
state of Israel was created in 1948, the majority of Palestinians were forced
to flee into exile, and here too women played a key role as protectors of their
families, and repositories
of the “national story”. It was vital that Palestinians, wherever
they were in the world, did not forget what had happened and continued to insist
on their right of return to their homeland. Women passed their memories of
Palestine down to subsequent generations.
Participating
in politics
In the
1960s, with the emergence of a Palestinian liberation movement, dedicated to
regaining the lost homeland, some women turned to more militant activities.
Leila Khalid, for example, hijacked several airliners on behalf of the Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine and became a familiar
face in the Western media.
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| Mural of Leila Khaled on a wall in Bethlehem. Rehgina/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA |
Gradually,
women also started to engage in formal politics, through membership of the main
Palestinian political factions. Although Palestinians tend to be socially
conservative and are anxious to shield women and girls from what might be
considered “dishonourable” or nontraditional behaviour, many younger women
found a new kind of freedom through education and political mobilisation.
women also started to engage in formal politics, through membership of the main
Palestinian political factions. Although Palestinians tend to be socially
conservative and are anxious to shield women and girls from what might be
considered “dishonourable” or nontraditional behaviour, many younger women
found a new kind of freedom through education and political mobilisation.
A largely
non-violent intifada (or “uprising”) began in 1987. Women, men and children
combined efforts to resist the 20-year occupation of their land. They did so in innovative
ways, for example by establishing alternative educational facilities
for children after all the schools were closed, creating an alternative economy
based on home produce, as well as engaging in
large-scale protests.
non-violent intifada (or “uprising”) began in 1987. Women, men and children
combined efforts to resist the 20-year occupation of their land. They did so in innovative
ways, for example by establishing alternative educational facilities
for children after all the schools were closed, creating an alternative economy
based on home produce, as well as engaging in
large-scale protests.
There
were also attempts at dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli women. For
example, in July 2006, members of the International Women’s Commission for a
Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC) convened an emergency
meeting in Athens. They urged the international community to intervene. In their words:
were also attempts at dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli women. For
example, in July 2006, members of the International Women’s Commission for a
Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC) convened an emergency
meeting in Athens. They urged the international community to intervene. In their words:
Civilians,
mainly women and children, are paying the price daily for this vicious cycle of
retaliation and counter-retaliation. This is a time of great danger … If no
action is taken today, tomorrow will be too late.
Although
no resolution came out of this or similar calls, initiatives involving women
from the two sides were judged to have been among the most promising.
no resolution came out of this or similar calls, initiatives involving women
from the two sides were judged to have been among the most promising.
Telling
the world
the world
Such
activities ended in 2000, with the start of the second intifada. The resistance
was no longer a shared endeavour involving all sectors of society – it was an
armed confrontation. Women suffered
greatly from rising levels of violence and decreasing security for
civilians.
activities ended in 2000, with the start of the second intifada. The resistance
was no longer a shared endeavour involving all sectors of society – it was an
armed confrontation. Women suffered
greatly from rising levels of violence and decreasing security for
civilians.
No one
felt safe. Girls travelling from their homes to university were likely to
experience harassment at Israeli army checkpoints and, as a result, many
parents started to keep their daughters at home, and even to marry them off at
the earliest possible opportunity; the age of marriage began to fall.
felt safe. Girls travelling from their homes to university were likely to
experience harassment at Israeli army checkpoints and, as a result, many
parents started to keep their daughters at home, and even to marry them off at
the earliest possible opportunity; the age of marriage began to fall.
As the
economic situation deteriorated, women had fewer opportunities for employment.
Incidences of mental illness rose and women exhibited deep anxiety about the
safety of their children.
economic situation deteriorated, women had fewer opportunities for employment.
Incidences of mental illness rose and women exhibited deep anxiety about the
safety of their children.
Many
Palestinians feel that they have no control over their own lives. Under a harsh
Israeli regime, it has been very difficult to exercise agency and Palestinian
political parties have seemed weak and ineffectual. The Islamist party Hamas
seemed to offer a more assertive form of opposition, and many women were
attracted by its grassroots organising and evident ability to confront the
Israeli occupation. Some became
militants.
Palestinians feel that they have no control over their own lives. Under a harsh
Israeli regime, it has been very difficult to exercise agency and Palestinian
political parties have seemed weak and ineffectual. The Islamist party Hamas
seemed to offer a more assertive form of opposition, and many women were
attracted by its grassroots organising and evident ability to confront the
Israeli occupation. Some became
militants.
While it
may be tempting to argue that the participation of women in violence is a sign
of a society that has lost its way, the reality is more complex. Many
Palestinian women point out that their community is powerless; it has neither
the political leadership nor the weapons to fight a conventional war. Instead,
it relies on all its members to participate and “tell the world” what is
happening to them.
may be tempting to argue that the participation of women in violence is a sign
of a society that has lost its way, the reality is more complex. Many
Palestinian women point out that their community is powerless; it has neither
the political leadership nor the weapons to fight a conventional war. Instead,
it relies on all its members to participate and “tell the world” what is
happening to them.
By
protesting at the Gaza-Israel border to mark the anniversary of al-nakbah (“the
catastrophe”), Palestinians are reminding the world that they were dispossessed
70 years ago and this injustice has still not been remedied. Palestinian women,
as much as men, have a vital stake in finding a solution to the conflict, that
will provide safety and certainty for the next generation.
protesting at the Gaza-Israel border to mark the anniversary of al-nakbah (“the
catastrophe”), Palestinians are reminding the world that they were dispossessed
70 years ago and this injustice has still not been remedied. Palestinian women,
as much as men, have a vital stake in finding a solution to the conflict, that
will provide safety and certainty for the next generation.
