A person I now know whom I didn’t know before, and a flag I’m not allowed to mention

Forgive me, all you football fans, but I haven't heard of Lamine Yamal until today

Before our unsighted eyes, and in our hardened hearts, whether we like it or not — Gaza and Palestine have become a symbol of heroism, of a people who’ve survived a hell on earth despite everything, and whose flag symbolises victory & pride; and Israel has become a symbol of the forces of darkness

By *Dr Michal Feldon • Translated from Hebrew by [Sol Salbe](https://www.facebook.com/sol.salbe)**

Forgive me, all you football fans, but I have not heard of Lamine Yamal until today.

And if the truth be known it is also possible not to know who Coetzee is, or what the hell is going on at the Venice Biennale;

It is possible not to know [long-time settler leader] Daniella Weiss or the settler organisations Nachla and Regavim [sanctioned by the EU], and not to read about the lady from [the Jerusalem Settlement of] Givat Ze’ev whose passport Belgium refused to renew because she lived outside Green Line Israel.

It is also possible to deny the holocaust that Israel committed in Gaza, and continue to yell out “antisemitism” and “Gevald” at every cafe which refuses to serve a pastry to some former soldier.

But it happens.

Before our unsighted eyes, and in our hardened hearts, whether we like it or not -

Gaza and Palestine have become a symbol of heroism, of a people who’ve survived a hell on earth despite everything, and whose flag symbolises victory and pride,

and Israel has become a symbol of the forces of darkness.

The voices of boycott against us will grow louder, along with overwhelming support for our oppressed Palestinian siblings.

And we will encounter refusal, mudslinging, cold shoulders, and disdain in every corner of the world.

And when you try to explain, when you start your words again with: “But on October 7….”, they will roll their eyes and look away.

Then you will say: “But I am not my government”, and also — “This was not done in my name”, “I went to a demonstration against Bibi every Saturday”,

“We are not all the same”,

And no one will listen anymore.

Because no one is interested in the subtleties and small details, when they have heard more and more incomprehensible descriptions of the holocaust.

80 thousand murdered.

Almost 30 thousand of whom were children

Almost ten thousand buried under the rubble

Years of being denied medicine and equipment,

Hundreds of children starving to death.

Mass graves

Rape and torture of captive people in prisons.

Oh…. So you demonstrated every Saturday against Bibi?

Oh well. You’re absolutely fine.

Come, share a meal with us.

(That will no longer happen from now on)

• Dr Michal Feldon is a senior pediatrician at Shamir Medical Center, Israel

Translated from Hebrew by **Sol Salbe, [Middle East News Service](https://www.facebook.com/sol.salbe)**

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