From Inside the War: A Personal Panorama (4-4) — Taysir Muhaisen

Taysir Muhaisen reflects on the war's impact on Palestinian society in Gaza, highlighting the role of civil organizations and grassroots initiatives in the absence of traditional institutions. He describes the experience of displacement and its effect on social relations, but also sees the emergence of new forms of solidarity and cooperation. The article concludes with the story of his friendship with Eduardo Blasina from Uruguay and a proposal to write a joint book, emphasizing the importance of recording small details as resistance to oblivion.

In a personal essay titled 'From Inside the War: A Personal Panorama (4-4),' writer Taysir Muhaisen reflects on the war's impact on Palestinian society in Gaza. He describes how civil organizations and grassroots initiatives played a vital role in the absence of traditional actors, emphasizing the importance of self-organization and building trust as part of the struggle for survival. The writer moves to the experience of displacement, pointing to pressures that led to strained social relations and the emergence of a 'war of all against all' in some areas, benefiting from the dismantling of society by the occupation. But he also sees positive aspects, such as the return of mutual aid and solidarity, opening homes to the displaced, and the emergence of popular kitchens and protection committees. He considers these manifestations a nucleus for a community movement capable of protecting people. The writer links his personal experience as a displaced person with his professional experience in civil work, emphasizing that humanitarian work must go beyond material response to include rebuilding relationships and trust. He concludes that social peace is part of resilience, and that protecting society from disintegration is no less important than securing food. The article concludes with the story of his friendship with Eduardo Blasina from Uruguay, which began in 2003 during an American program on agriculture, and developed during the war into daily communication and a proposal to write a joint book. The writer sees that recording small details is an act of resistance to oblivion and an attempt to prevent the war machine from writing the final story.