In this issue of Resilience Reflections, Gül Özerol focuses on the role of resilience in maintaining the culture, collective capacity and strength of the Palestinian people in the face of ongoing and escalating adversity.
In this regular series by Resilience@UT and 4TU Resilience, UT researchers share their personal reflections on current events and trends that impact our daily lives, exploring their implications for resilience. The series is just one of many UT initiatives responding to the urgent need to respond to rapid societal and environmental change. As an academic institution, we have a role to play in strengthening the resilience of the social, technological and environmental systems that support us. The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own.
Palestinian Sumud and Resilience: A Critical Reflection
Literally translated as "steadfastness", Sumud has become the motto for the resilience of the Palestinian people. The concept is deeply rooted in Palestinian history, culture, and identity, embodying their resolve to maintain roots, resist oppression, and strive for justice and self-determination. While Sumud has undoubtedly been essential for maintaining cultural identity and fostering resilience against occupation, apartheid and displacement, it is essential to address the limitations inherent in relying solely on Sumud as a response to systemic injustice.
Sumud as an element of cultural resilience
Passed down through generations in stories, traditions, and collective memories, Sumud is deeply ingrained in Palestinian culture. Cultural resilience serves as a source of strength and identity, helping Palestinians to maintain their sense of self and community (Marie et al., 2018). Sumud also fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support. Through networks of family, friends, and neighbours, Palestinians provide each other with practical assistance, emotional support, and a sense of belonging. However, constantly having to be resilient in the face of oppression takes a psychological toll on individuals and communities. For instance, the chronic stress, trauma, and uncertainty experienced by Palestinians lead to mental health issues, which can be exacerbated by a cultural emphasis on endurance (Harrold, 2020).
Sumud as a political strategy
Politically, Sumud encourages the development of adaptive strategies for coping with occupation, apartheid and colonialism. It implies resourcefulness in finding ways to survive and thrive despite limited access to basic rights and services in the context of protracted conflict and long-term adversities (Hammad and Tribe, 2020). Over the past decades, Palestinians have employed various forms of resistance, including nonviolent protest, grassroots organizing, and cultural expression, to assert their rights and preserve their identity. While unifying in its essence, Sumud does not necessarily translate into cohesive and strategic resistance efforts on the ground. Internal divisions and political infighting have led to a fragmentation within the Palestinian society, challenging the unity and collective action necessary for effective resistance.
Sumud is also prone to normalisation, which implies participation in projects or initiatives that make occupation, apartheid and colonialism seem normal and establish normal relations with the Israeli regime instead of supporting the struggle led by the Palestinian people to end oppression (Palestinian BDS National Committee, 2022). External actors, such as the Israeli government and international NGOs, appropriate Sumud to promote narratives of resilience and coexistence that obscure the reality of dispossession and denial of rights (Shqair, 2023).
Quo vadis Sumud?
The ongoing war in Gaza adds another layer of complexity to the discussion of Sumud and resilience. As of September 2024, almost 42,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army (Al-Jazeera, 2024). The siege worsens the humanitarian catastrophe, with severe shortages of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies. Gaza's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and water facilities, has been repeatedly targeted and destroyed during military offensives, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and impeding efforts at reconstruction and development. As ruled by an independent UN commission, the systematic targeting of civilians and infrastructure also constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law. While humanitarian organisations try to provide a lifeline for Gazans, they also perpetuate a cycle of dependency and vulnerability, as the underlying issues of the conflict remain unaddressed.
While Sumud has been a vital source of strength and resistance, it is crucial to reflect on the broader political, social, and psychological implications of relying solely on Sumud. Balancing Sumud with efforts to address root causes, to begin with by holding Israel accountable for violating international humanitarian law, is essential for Palestinian liberation and justice.
References
Al-Jazeera (2024). Israel-Gaza war in maps and charts: Live tracker. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
Hammad, J., & Tribe, R. (2021). Culturally informed resilience in conflict settings: A literature review of Sumud in the occupied Palestinian territories. International Review of Psychiatry, 33(1-2), 132-139.
Harrold, D. (2020). From sumud to intifada: Supporting non‐violent action to enhance mental health. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 17(2), 165-182.
Marie, M., Hannigan, B., & Jones, A. (2018). Social ecology of resilience and Sumud of Palestinians. Health, 22(1), 20-35.
Palestinian BDS National Committee (2022). The BDS Movement’s anti-normalization guidelines explained. https://bdsmovement.net/news/bds-movement-anti-normalization-guidelines
Shqair, M. (2023). Arab–Israeli eco-normalisation Greenwashing settler colonialism in Palestine and the Jawlan. https://www.tni.org/en/article/arab-israeli-eco-normalisation?translation=en
About the author
Dr. Gül Özerol is a policy scientist concerned with sustainability and justice in the Department of Governance and Technology for Sustainability (CSTM). She has expertise in water, energy and climate governance which relies on local, national and international collaborations. Her research and teaching experience extends over 20 years, mainly in the Middle East and Europe.
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