A very serious and life-critical dialogue between a father – the Palestinian journalist “Anas al-Sharif,” living in the Gaza Strip – and his daughter; addressing global public opinion, including Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu: We Will Not Leave Palestine!

“THE INEVITABLE GROWTH”

Suppose, in your belief, I have fallen to the ground,
And my young branches are wounded by the blows of your axes.
But what will you do with my roots?

Suppose you are sitting on this rooftop, lying in ambush for a bird,
And you declare flying forbidden.
But what will you do with the chicks resting in the nest?

Suppose the wandering night wind
Passes by with the wild roar of drunken cries.
But what will you do with the bright, song-filled morning?

Suppose you strike,
Suppose you cut,
Suppose you kill.
But what will you do with the inevitable sprouting of the bud?

Poem by Shahriar Dadvar / Sweden – January 1990

Translated to English by Hasse-Nima Golkar.

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Father: (My) daughter!

Daughter: Yes!

F: Trump says he wants to force us out of Gaza. Do you want to leave Gaza?

D: No, I want to stay in Gaza

F: You want to stay here?

D: Yes

F: Why?

D: Because I love Gaza

F: Do you love Gaza?

D: Yes

F: So you don’t want to leave?

D: No

F: Alright, I want to take you to Qatar

D: Not to Qatar either

F: To Jordan then

D: No

F: To Egypt

D: No

F: To … To Turkey

D: No

F: To which country then?

D: I want to stay in this country

F: You want to stay here in Gaza?

D: Yes

F: So you’re not leaving?

D: Yes, I’m not leaving at all

F: You’re absolutely not leaving?

D: Yes

F: Not at all? Then tell them “We’re not leaving”

D: We’re not leaving!

F: We’re stay steadfastly here. My soul!

@AnasAlSharif0 / February 13, 2025

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FnhSw1BxLw