‘People here aren’t just living their own trauma. They absorb the pain of the entire community. A mother watches her child’s school bombed and takes on the trauma of every parent who lost a child that day.’
By NONTOBEKO AISHA MKHWANAZI
For the people of Palestine, survival is more than just an act of endurance. It is a form of resistance, a refusal to be erased. But even the strongest of individuals cannot begin to heal without peace and justice.
According to the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) the Israeli genocide in Palestine, in the 12 months since October 7, 2023, has claimed more than 41 480 Palestinian lives, with more than another 10 000 reported missing under the rubble and presumed dead.
An analysis published by The Lancet medical journal puts the estimate of the total number of Palestinian deaths directly or indirectly attributable to Israel’s genocide as of July 2024, including from reproductive, communicable and non-communicable diseases, to a staggering 186 000.
This immeasurable toll has left the population in Gaza grappling with profound trauma. The airstrikes, crumbling buildings, and scenes of unimaginable loss all carry a devastating psychological toll, affecting every aspect of life for those trapped in an ongoing genocide.
In an exclusive interview with Muslim Views, Professor Marwan Diab, a Palestinian psychologist and currently an Associate Research Fellow at the Department of Psychology at Stellenbosch University, speaks about the deep scars left by the ongoing oppression faced by Palestinians.
‘Trauma doesn’t spare anyone. I’ve lost my home, my car and my sense of safety, yet I continue to help others navigate their grief while living through my own,’ says Professor Diab.
Palestinians are not only enduring the immediate effects of this ongoing genocide such as Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD), anxiety, and depression but are also dealing with the long-term psychological consequences of systemic oppression.
Children, growing up in a state of perpetual siege, often exhibit developmental trauma, their emotional and psychological growth stunted by the violence and instability surrounding them.
‘These children don’t just lose their homes or families; they lose their childhoods. They stop playing, laughing or imagining a future,’ explains Professor Diab.
He also notes that the constant exposure to violence and oppression has led to a collective psychological injury.
‘Imagine living in a space where every move is controlled, where your entire existence is under surveillance. The helplessness this creates despair, anxiety and a state of constant hyper-vigilance,’ says Professor Diab.
He also emphasises the generational nature of trauma in Palestine.
‘Israel’s Apartheid oppression has turned our beautiful land into an open-air prison. Many Palestinians, including children, have never seen the world beyond Palestine. The trauma they carry isn’t just from the bombs; it’s from being trapped in a reality where freedom doesn’t exist,’ laments Professor Diab.
He adds that ‘this isn’t just about the present; it’s about the future. Today’s children will carry this trauma into adulthood, and without meaningful intervention, they will pass it down to their children. The cycle will continue unless the violence stops.’
He also notes that among the most pervasive effects of this ongoing violence is the vicarious trauma experienced by those witnessing the suffering of others.
‘People here aren’t just living their own trauma. They absorb the pain of the entire community. A mother watches her child’s school bombed and takes on the trauma of every parent who lost a child that day.’
In addition, he highlights that for those in the diaspora, like a wound continuously bleeding, the trauma reverberates across borders, carried in stories and memories, in the knowledge that their homeland is being systematically erased.
‘Vicarious trauma doesn’t just affect those living under occupation. It affects every Palestinian, every person who watches this injustice unfold. It spreads like wildfire, because trauma doesn’t stop at borders. It doesn’t end when the news cycle moves on,’ says Professor Diab.
The psychological services available in Palestine are overwhelmed by the sheer scale of need. There are far too few mental health professionals to address the immense suffering.
Professor Diab notes, ‘We are stretched beyond capacity. The demand for support is far greater than the resources we have.’
Support, according to Professor Diab, is also crucial because beyond the immediate trauma Palestinians endure the daily humiliation and oppression of life under occupation. Despite the resilience of the Palestinian people, Professor Diab warns that it comes at a high cost.
‘Every day is a struggle for survival, and while our people are incredibly strong, this level of trauma is unsustainable. Resilience isn’t infinite. Therapy alone won’t heal us while bombs are still falling. We need the violence to stop, the blockade to be lifted, and space for real healing to begin,’ says Professor Diab.
He makes an impassioned plea for meaningful global intervention: ‘The Palestinians cannot heal while the bombs are still falling. The world must do more than watch. The world must act.’
