Resistance, in its simplest terms, is defined as opposing or rejecting external forces and changes. It is a natural response to injustice, tyranny, and occupation, representing the collective will of people — regardless of their religion or ethnicity — towards freedom, dignity, and justice.
Throughout history, from the time of primitive man to the modern era, resistance has emerged in various forms, adapting to the surrounding circumstances as a symbol of defiance and perseverance.
Whether it is armed resistance or peaceful struggle, the core message remains the same — a refusal to surrender and submit, and an embodiment of the aspiration for freedom, dignity, and justice.
In ancient times, resistance was often a response to invasions and occupations, with groups and nations resisting invaders and tyrants in multiple ways. Over time, resistance evolved, encompassing national liberation movements against colonialism and occupation, as well as civil rights movements that fought against racial discrimination and social injustice.
One notable example from history is the Spanish colonisation of the Americas, which lasted from September 24, 1493, to July 13, 1898. The resistance movements, particularly those led by Venezuelan revolutionary Simón Bolívar, played a crucial role in liberating Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Venezuela from Spanish rule. Bolívar’s leadership earned him the title of 'Libertador,' meaning 'The Liberator.'
European history also offers countless examples of resistance. During the period between 1939 and 1944, Nazi Germany occupied many European nations, including Poland, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, France, and parts of the Soviet Union. These countries, with the help of Britain and others, resisted the occupation until the Nazis surrendered in May 1945.
In more recent history, the Algerian War of Independence stands out as a powerful example of resistance. Beginning on November 1, 1954, it followed 124 years of French colonial rule and culminated in Algeria’s independence on July 5, 1962. The struggle lasted seven years and claimed the lives of more than one and a half million Algerians. Similarly, Libya's resistance to the Italian invasion in 1911, led by the iconic figure Omar Al Mukhtar, persisted for nearly two decades, inflicting significant losses on the Italians until Al Mukhtar's execution in 1931. His famous words, "We will not surrender. We win or die," have echoed through history as a testament to the spirit of resistance. Another example is the Vietnamese resistance to the United States, which lasted from 1955 until the withdrawal of American forces in 1973.
These examples barely scratch the surface of the vast historical record of resistance against occupiers. One of the most enduring and formidable examples is the Palestinian resistance, which has persisted for decades against Israeli occupation.
The world, including the United States and Western countries, is well aware that before May 14, 1948, Israel did not exist. This entity was the outcome of the first Zionist Congress, held in Basel, Switzerland, on August 29, 1897, under the leadership of Theodor Herzl.
Herzl, frustrated by the lack of support from wealthy Jews, proposed creating a Jewish homeland, initially considering locations like Palestine, Argentina, or Uganda. The idea of colonising Palestine eventually gained traction, receiving official endorsement through the Balfour Declaration on November 2, 1917, where British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour expressed support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Over the decades, tens of thousands of Jews were relocated to Palestine, altering its demographic makeup and paving the way for the establishment of Israel in 1948. Prior to that year, there was no such entity as Israel, a fact highlighted by Golda Meir, who served as Israel's Prime Minister from 1969 to 1974 and even held Palestinian citizenship at one point. Today, the US and Western countries justify Israel's right to 'self-defence' against what they label as 'Palestinian fighter organisations.'
However, resistance to occupation has never been, and should never be, equated with terrorism. For over 76 years, Israel has committed countless crimes against the indigenous Palestinian population, including the recent massacres and genocide in Gaza, all carried out with the full military, intelligence, and economic support of Western nations.
Resistance is an idea, a belief deeply ingrained in the hearts of people around the world who resist occupation. The martyrdom of heroes like Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Lebanon’s Hassan Nasrallah will never stop the resistance.
As history has shown, the idea of resistance never dies — it triumphs in the end, overcoming those who violate the natural order and laws of life. The United States and Western countries must realise this and cease their blatant support for the criminal Zionist regime, if they wish to retain any measure of dignity in the eyes of the peoples of this region and the wider world.
However, it seems unlikely they will ever understand this reality.
Translated by Badr al Dhafari
The original version of this article was published in the print edition of Oman Arabic newspaper on 20 October 2024
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