The Islamic resistance in Gaza has demonstrated extraordinary acts of heroism that have captured the attention of the entire world in the face of an alliance of evil forces conspiring against it. However, what truly drew my attention was the astounding resilience of the people of Gaza—civilians, women, the elderly, and children. Their heroism is a story unto itself.
Manifestations of Heroism Among the Proud People of Gaza
The Power of Patience and Steadfastness
Mothers losing all their children for the sake of God; fathers losing their entire households; individuals who witness their entire family trees wiped out; a young man seeing the dismembered remains of his loved ones scattered on the ground—and then appearing on media outlets thanking God for their trials, with pain and sorrow, but also with patience and steadfastness.
They speak of remaining on the land and rebuilding it.
They promise the enemy an imminent victory.
What kind of human fortitude is this? It surpasses ordinary human capacity.
Acceptance of Divine Decree
Despite the extensive losses and overwhelming tragedies, there has been no widespread public outrage against divine destiny. We have not witnessed profane speech, nor excessive wailing or lamentation—except in very rare instances.
This is a living embodiment of faith in divine decree—both its good and bad—and complete contentment with it.
No Space for Treachery
In similar conflict zones, especially where the scale of loss, killing, and destruction is immense, societies tend to fragment.
Blame circulates. Accusations fly. Factions turn against one another. Betrayals multiply. Loyalties are bought and sold. Division creeps in.
Yet none of this has occurred among the people of Gaza.
Despite the wounds, pain, and grief, we have not heard the afflicted population voice complaints against their leadership. There has been no internal fragmentation.
The Zionist serpent and its collaborators attempted to sow dissent and scouted for disgruntled voices to exploit, but they utterly failed.
Gaza’s unique heroism lies in its complete resistance to external infiltration, and in the total absence of any signs of internal discontent, complaint, or retreat that might embolden the many merchants of betrayal.
While I am confident that political views diverge, and scholarly reassessments of the wisdom behind Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and the continuation of the war have emerged, nothing of that debate has surfaced publicly.
As a result, the doors remained shut in the face of an opportunistic enemy waiting for any crack of division. Instead, the people displayed full alignment with their leadership and expressed that unity on numerous occasions.
Reasons Behind Gaza’s Resilience
Sound Religious Doctrine
Sound religious conviction is the cornerstone of standing firm in the face of death.
Certainly, there is courage, zeal, patriotism, and defensive instinct. But it is firm belief concerning the unseen, the Creator, life and death, and the cosmos that constitutes the strongest and most unifying reason for collective steadfastness against invaders and existential threats.
Religious Upbringing
When a society combines sound religious doctrine with behavioral upbringing rooted in that doctrine, the result is a heroic society—just as the people of Gaza have exemplified in this excruciating trial.
Gaza is predominantly religious, in part because governance rests with an Islamic group that frames the current phase as jihad in the path of God and upholds the imperative to liberate Palestine from occupation. This outlook shapes internal policy, legislation, and societal behavior.
This is precisely why political Islam is frequently targeted under various pretexts.
Harsh Living Conditions in Gaza
Life in Gaza, even before Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and what followed, was far from blissful. The people have long suffered from blockade, poverty, and harsh living conditions—most notably, the ever-present feeling of living under occupation.
This harsh environment contributed significantly to the resilience displayed during this ordeal. It enabled the people to withstand the horrors of war, displacement, poverty, and all forms of suffering.
A more pampered society would not have endured even a fraction of what Gaza has borne.
The Formula for Heroism
The aforementioned factors together constitute the secret to Gaza’s resilience and heroism over a year and a half of relentless bombardment, massacres, forced displacement, and a brutal war that resulted in staggering numbers of martyrs and injuries—mostly among women and children—and widespread destruction of homes, roads, institutions, and infrastructure.
I reiterate: it is this particular combination of factors that forms the magic formula for resilience and steadfastness. Were any element missing or deficient, the collapse would have been swift, as we have seen in other contexts.
