For many of us, the idea of leaving Gaza feels like a quiet betrayal. But how do you stay when the weight of loss grows heavier each day?

Even now, in moments of joy, all we think about are the things we lost, like celebrating a child’s birthday, celebrating the new year, or even the simple pleasure of gathering as a family without fear of the Israeli death that hovers around us. 

The shame of Israel’s genocide in Gaza will haunt the international moral conscience and the Israeli psyche for the coming century. Though Israelis, accustomed to the perpetual shaming of Germany, are unprepared for the shame they must now confront.

In less than a month, Joe Biden’s presidency will be over, and his legacy will be cemented as one of genocide. With Trump on the way in, it’s becoming more clear what his second term will look like for Palestine. And it’s not going to be good.