It’s almost been a week since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t know how to react.

Three weeks ago, I started a university module, The Diplomacy of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. For those who know me, this will come as no surprise. I’ve always been fascinated by geopolitics and an avid supporter of the Palestinian struggle for freedom. So why didn’t I know how to react? Surely, I should be celebrating, right? Well, you see, here’s where things get complicated.

When I first started the module, I knew my position wasn’t going to change – I will forever remain staunchly pro-Palestinian – but I was open to at least learning about the other side. I was so committed to this that I purposefully went out of my way to befriend a self-proclaimed Zionist. At least the discussions would be a lot more interesting than if I were talking to someone I wholly agreed with.

However, to my surprise, we actually had a lot in common. For one, he’s also a writer like myself, mainly writing about his experience growing up in Israel. And even though he says he’s a proud Zionist, his best friend is a Palestinian from the West Bank, and he’s against expanding Israeli settlements into Palestinian territory. So yeah, it was definitely eye-opening.

On Saturday, when I, like many others, saw the news reports coming in of Hamas’ attack, I was conflicted. On the one hand, a part of me felt a sense of revolutionary zeal. The colonised had finally struck back at their colonisers. But I was also taken aback by the horrific videos of Hamas attacking and kidnapping festivalgoers. The same disgust I feel towards the countless videos of the Israeli “Defence” Force brutalising Palestinian worshippers at Masjid Al-Aqsa or bulldozing through Palestinian towns to make way for illegal Israeli settlements. Oppression is ugly, and resistance is rarely pretty.

When Monday’s lecture rolled around, it’s safe to say the atmosphere was a little tense. Rather than covering the planned course content, we opted to have an open discussion about what happened. My heart went out to Israeli students who spoke about how they’re worried for their friends and family, some of whom they haven’t heard from since the attack. Others expressed concern for their safety following the vandalism of a Jewish restaurant in northwest London, a blatant act of antisemitism, which is never acceptable.

Unfortunately, there were no Palestinian students to voice their concern over Israel’s inevitable assault on Gaza. An assault we all know will add countless more bodies to the thousands of Palestinians and Israelis killed in this seventy-five-year-long occupation.

My entire life, I’ve always been – and continue to be – opposed to any and all forms of tyranny. And the state of Israel, a voracious violator of international law responsible for an unending plethora of human rights abuses against the Palestinian people, is one such tyrant.

But I also abide by other principles too. I do not under any circumstances accept the killing of non-combatants. It goes against the tenets of my religion. So, if I condemn Israel for terrorising and murdering innocent Palestinians. Then, I also condemn Hamas for terrorising and murdering innocent Israelis. Evil is evil. No matter where you find it.

But let’s not pretend like this all happened in a vacuum. Violent militant groups like Hamas don’t just pop out of thin air. Just like plants require sufficient sunlight and nutrient-rich soil to grow, poor socio-economic conditions are needed for radicalisation to take root. Conditions like those subjected to the people of Gaza over the last decade and a half at the hands of Israel. Conditions like the bombing of schools and hospitals, the cutting-off of electricity and water, and the repeated violation of Palestinian rights. Conditions that have bred a climate of hate. In the words of the late Malcolm X: “Chickens coming home to roost.”

So, where do we go from here?

As the situation currently stands, Gaza is again under siege as Israel prepares to mobilise its troops for an inevitable blood bath. Meanwhile, the Western world stands by as though Palestinian lives are suddenly forfeit in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack. As though whatever happens over the next few weeks is justly deserved. A typical case of collective psychosis if I ever saw one.

This war didn’t start on the 7^th of October. For the people of Palestine, it’s been ongoing since 1948. And there will never be peace until Israel begins to respect the rights and sovereignty of the Palestinians. Only then will groups like Hamas cease to exist, and atrocities like those committed last weekend cease to occur.

In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to every Palestinian and Israeli suffering at the hands of Israeli occupation and the militant groups it precipitated. I pray for a better future. One where everyone can live in peace, regardless of their creed. May Allah ease the suffering of all those caught in the crossfire. Ameen.