Western Media Discovers Palestinians Won't 'Submit,' 76 Years Late
The Al Jazeera piece highlights Ahmad Ibsais’s observation that Palestinian 'Sumud,' or steadfastness, captures their defiance to colonial powers. It’s a compelling sentiment, if a bit late to the party for Western media outlets. This is the same 'unwillingness to submit' that fueled the Nakba’s forced displacement in 1948, the resistance to the 1967 occupation, and decades of protest against
illegal settlements, siege, and ongoing violence. Funny how outlets routinely describe this 'steadfastness' as 'intransigence' or 'terrorism' when convenient. While Al Jazeera at least acknowledges the colonial context, mainstream Western reporting often frames Palestinian resistance as an unprovoked escalation. Consider the U.S. Congress, which consistently votes for billions in unconditional aid
to Israel—like the $14.3 billion package (H.R. 7217) passed in February 2024—while simultaneously condemning Palestinian calls for self-determination. Perhaps if Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who received $21,123 from AIPAC in 2022-2024, wasn't so busy safeguarding military aid, he might notice the 'unwillingness to submit' is a rather logical response to being occupied.