There is a place on this earth where a child goes to bed not knowing if the next airstrike will take their mother, or their home, or their life. There is a place where the call to prayer is drowned out by the sound of drones, and where the smell of gunpowder lingers longer than the scent of bread. That place is Palestine. And right now, Palestine is dying in front of our eyes.
Not just Gaza. Not just the West Bank. All of Palestine is under siege, by bombs, by occupation, by a world that has conveniently chosen silence over justice.
And here we are, in Sri Lanka, scrolling through our phones, sipping tea, attending events, living our lives, while a people with a 5,000-year-old heritage is being erased from the map. And the world? The world is pretending not to see.
What’s Happening in Palestine?
As of June 2025, the situation in Palestine has reached catastrophic levels. The Israeli government’s military offensive, disguised as “self-defense” has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, women, and children. More than 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been decimated. Hospitals are non-functional, water is undrinkable, food is a luxury, and humanitarian aid is either blocked or bombed.
This isn’t a war. This is a systematic genocide.
Children are dying from airstrikes and starvation alike. Babies are born into rubble, live a few days, and are buried nameless under stones that used to be homes. In hospitals that run on candlelight and hope, doctors perform surgeries without anesthesia.
And where are the headlines? Where is the outrage?
You don’t need to be Muslim to care about Palestine. You don’t need to be Arab. You don’t need to be political. You just need to be human
The Death of Humanitarianism
The world has always had double standards, but Palestine has exposed them in the most grotesque way possible. When war breaks out in Europe, the West rallies with hashtags, funding, and tears. But when Palestine screams, it echoes into silence.
UN resolutions are passed and then ignored. Journalists reporting from Gaza are killed. Aid workers are bombed. And still, the media tiptoes around the word “occupation.” They avoid the term “apartheid.” They refuse to say what we all know to be true- this is ethnic cleansing.
Palestine is not a humanitarian crisis; it is a humanitarian failure. One we’re all part of if we choose silence.
Why Sri Lankans Should Care
You may be asking, “What does this have to do with me? I live thousands of miles away. I have my own problems.”
But here’s the thing: Sri Lanka, too, has known the brutality of war. We, too, have lived through displacement, starvation, media bias, and the silence of the international community. We know what it means to be forgotten. So, if anyone should care, it should be us!
This isn’t about politics. This is about people. Innocent people. Children with wide eyes and empty stomachs. Families praying under collapsed roofs. A culture being erased, a people being punished for simply existing.
The Silence of the Mainstream Media
Open any major Western news site right now. Count how many times you see “Palestine” in the top headlines. You probably won’t. Because the media doesn’t want you to humanize Palestinians. They want you to believe the lie that this is a “conflict,” that there are “two sides,” that both sides are equally responsible.
Let’s be clear, one side is occupied. One side is doing the occupying.
This isn’t a “war.” It’s colonialism with drones.
So, if the media refuses to show the truth, it is up to us, ordinary people to become the media. Because silence is no longer just apathy. Silence is complicity.
How We Can Use Our Platforms in Sri Lanka
We may not be able to stop the bombs, but we can stop the silence. Here’s how we, as Sri Lankans, as human beings, can use our platforms to raise awareness
- Educate Yourself and Others
Don’t rely on mainstream news. Follow Palestinian journalists, human rights activists, and independent media. Understand the history of the occupation, this didn’t start in 2023, or 2014, or even 1948.
It started long before that, and it continues today. Use your knowledge to educate your friends, your colleagues, your family. Bring Palestine into the conversation.
- Use Social Media Loudly and Consistently
Your Instagram story may seem small, but it can plant a seed. Share real stories. Show the faces of Palestinian children. Share their names. Break the algorithm. Refuse to be quiet. If you can post about concerts, vacations, and memes, you can post about genocide.
- Host Solidarity Events
Vigils. Protests. Panel discussions. Even a poetry night. Use your physical space to express digital solidarity. Invite people to come, learn, and care. Let it be known that in Colombo, in Kandy, in Jaffna, in Galle, Palestine is not forgotten.
- Support Relief Efforts
There are credible organizations working to get aid into Palestine, like Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and others. Fundraisers, donations, and awareness campaigns can make a difference. Every rupee counts.
- Boycott Brands That Support the Genocide
Put your money where your morals are. Many global corporations directly or indirectly fund or support the ongoing occupation and oppression of Palestinians. Choosing not to buy from them is a powerful form of protest. Every rupee you spend is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. Do your research. Stay informed. And most importantly, spend consciously. A boycott may seem small, but when millions make that choice, it becomes a roar the world can’t ignore.
Put your money where your morals are. Many global corporations directly or indirectly fund or support the ongoing occupation and oppression of Palestinians
This is Not About Politics. This is About Humanity
You don’t need to be Muslim to care about Palestine. You don’t need to be Arab. You don’t need to be political. You just need to be human.
Because right now, humanity is being tested. Not just in Palestine, but in every place where people choose comfort over conscience. Neutrality in the face of injustice is not neutrality; it’s siding with the oppressor.
From Palestine to Sri Lanka; A Letter Unsent
If Palestine could write to us, perhaps it would say:
“We are tired. But we are not broken. We are angry. But we are not hateful. We are buried under rubble, but we still have our voices. Will you use yours to echo ours?”
So, here’s our answer: From this tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean, we see you, Palestine.
We hear you. We mourn with you. We will not be silent. Not today. Not ever.
