There appears to be a growing sentiment on social media against visiting Palestine in light of Israel’s ongoing genocidal onslaught in Gaza. This sentiment is perhaps best summarised by a post on the social media platform X which gained traction recently: “I’m (sic) going to tweet this every once in a while: if you’re not Palestinian, do NOT come to Palestine now unless you are planning to participate in resistance. I cannot convey to you how distressing it is to see folks frolic around Bethlehem and Jerusalem as if nothing is happening.”

Whilst the original user who posted this tweet no doubt comes from a place of solidarity with her homeland and it is a rightfully emotionally charged comment, a different perspective offers a strong case for the continuation of travel to Palestine, whether to Jerusalem or Jericho, and that this too, is resistance. During my visit in September 2023, the common sentiment from Palestinians I interacted with was inviting. “Come to Palestine!” they said, “This (Al Aqsa) is yours, come and pray in it!” To them, solidarity in prayer is a form of resistance against their oppressors who attempt to curtail these rights. Participating in resistance takes on many forms for those of us living outside of Gaza, and perhaps we should consider the perspective that our presence on all Palestinian land is a form of resistance. 

Existence is Resistance

An analysis of Israel’s historical occupation and expansion in Palestine points clearly to one of its main objectives: land grab. Israel has continuously presented itself as an expanding force, occupying, destroying and colonising Palestinian land. Following the 1967 Israeli occupation of Gaza and the ensuing ‘six-day war’, the subsequent control of Gaza’s airspace, shared border and shoreline effectively turned the Gaza Strip into an open-air prison. The ongoing genocidal effort by Israel to eradicate Palestinian life from Gaza and colonise it as Israeli-governed territory again points to the same objective: a land grab. It is no secret that Israeli officials have released plans to raze Gaza to the ground and build in its place a holiday resort, in a desperate attempt to take advantage of Gaza’s beautiful coast location and beaches for Israel’s own economic and commercial gain.

In light of this, when land is what Israel is desperately trying to capture, being present and taking up space on the land can be understood as a powerful act of resistance.

Let it be known, there is the caveat of respect and solidarity here. To ‘frolic’ is not the objective, and in fairness, reports of this sort of behaviour are extremely rare. For Muslims, Jews and Christians, Palestine is a Holy Land, rich in religious artefacts and significance. For the non-religious Palestinian supporters, a visit may be a chance to bear witness and be present; to show up in collective solidarity. 

Respect and solidarity with the Palestinian people include acknowledging that non-Palestinians from the global diaspora hold certain privileges. Many Palestinians are refused entry to their own places of religious significance, yet the UK passport still holds some weight. The global diaspora has a responsibility owing to our passport and financial privileges which should be leveraged. The ability to travel into Palestine with relative ease and comfort is an immense opportunity that should be taken advantage of. We should go and fill the rows for Jummah at Al Aqsa in Jerusalem. We should buy every entry ticket to the museums and galleries in Bethlehem. We should dine at the restaurants in the West Bank, wear our keffiyehs and stand strong in defiance. This too, is resistance. 

The pillars of resistance are many, and they all stand strong. Taking up arms is not the resolute essence of resistance. Pacifism, political lobbying, economic sanctions and boycotts are all valid, demonstrable and ethical stances to take against Israel.

For many, travelling to Palestinian cities like Bethlehem, Jericho or Ramallah will involve first-hand experience of Israeli checkpoints and harassment. Whilst this may initially invoke anxiety or apprehension, there is a great benefit to having first-hand experience of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Palestinians on their land. Bear witness and keep account, so you can play your part in debunking the myths around Israel operating as the ‘only democracy in the Middle East.’ Come back with a changed psyche. Realise the privilege you have: to walk around freely in your own city, to enjoy life without occupation. Spend time there to reflect on the role you must play as an individual to knock down the doors and dismantle the structures that keep Israel’s colonisation project going. Use your daily interactions with the people of the land, the Palestinians, to grow deeper in your empathy and understand them as humans beyond the aid appeals you may see on your screens. See them as they are: as children on their way to school, and fathers making a living to send them there. 

Palestinian Perspective

Does one automatically assume authority on a delicate matter owing to one’s heritage? When taking into account the importance of indigenous perspectives, yes. It can be argued that the most authentic voice currently is the one of Palestinians. Certainly, this is made all the more important with the suppression of Palestinian voices and journalism from mainstream media. As a result, we have seen the rise in popularity of organic forms of information dissemination through social media platforms. However, the Palestinian diaspora is vast – an estimated 50% of Palestinians live outside of their country. When considering the perspectives of such a large community, it is expected that the opinion on visiting Palestine will not be a monolith. One British-Palestinian activist and journalist I spoke to also argues in favour of people continuing to visit Palestine, as long as that visit is done with respect and does not fall into a glorification of philanthropy (charity for likes) exercise. This echoes Imam Omar Suleiman’s advice, where he shared that people should continue to visit Palestine if they are not complicit in the normalisation of the occupation.

In a profound sermon, Palestinian Imam Suleiman advises, “As many people as can go visit (Al Quds) right now, go visit, just don’t whitewash or normalise the occupation…because the occupation clearly does not want people to visit.”

He further reiterates the great responsibility that comes alongside the position we are in where we are witnessing a genocide take place. This is a responsibility to take action and be unwavering in our solidarity. 

The less people visit Palestine, the more we stay away, whether in fear of a difficult experience or because we personally think we cannot bear to witness oppression firsthand, the more normalised it becomes that this is Israeli land, controlled by the Israeli narrative of who and who shouldn’t visit. No doubt witnessing the occupational forces firsthand will be difficult, but why is your personal discomfort greater than the daily experience of the average Palestinian living under Israel’s colonisation project? 

The Land We Chant For

Hundreds of thousands of us have taken to the streets of our cities, from Glasgow to London, shouting for freedom for Palestine since Israel’s occupation, for Israel to take its hands off Al Aqsa in 2021, and for an end to the genocide since 2023. Protestors chant in the streets and show up in numbers because of a strong sense of solidarity and a connection to this land. Visiting Palestine deepens this connection and solidarity and can allow us to go further in our activism and campaigns. 

If anything, let us visit to remember the land; a land of pomegranates, olives and oranges. A land where rocks take on tanks, and children face adult trials. A land where the Palestinians delight in visitors from abroad, sharing mint tea and fresh dates under the canopy of trees. When Palestine is liberated, let us return and let the land be familiar.