‘We are victims of Israel and the west’: Raji Sourani

Interview/ Raji Sourani, director, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Raji Sourani, Gaza’s foremost human rights lawyer, is on a mission to present evidence before the International Court of Justice against Israel’s alleged violation of human rights laws. After a bomb attack on his house in 2023, he escaped to Egypt with his wife and son. Although he has been targeted several times, Sourani is still working for the two-state solution based on a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital. “Peace must come with justice and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,” he says in an exclusive interview. Excerpts: 

Given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, what does the ceasefire mean for the Palestinian people?

People wanted a ceasefire badly. But that alone will not stop the pain and suffering. It will not end the occupation or the ethnic cleansing. We hope things don’t stop with a ceasefire, forgetting that there are two and a half million people in Gaza without shelter, in famine and subjected to genocide. Peace must come with justice and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. We must not forget that this ceasefire came after two years of genocidal war, where civilians were the main target. Ninety per cent of Gaza has been erased. There are no schools, no universities and not one functioning hospital. There is no electricity, no water or trees left to bear fruit. We lost 70,000 people, while 300,000 had to undergo amputations. We struggled and paid a heavy price, but we did not surrender to criminals and genocide. We will not give up until justice is achieved with the help of the world’s committed people, especially India. 

What long-term solution do you see for Gaza and the Palestinian territories? 

They have to recognise that there is a people called Palestinians. This state of absolute denial—of pretending that we do not exist—will never bring peace or security to Israel. Palestinians are entitled to justice and dignity. The minimum requirement is a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital and an end to occupation so we can practice our right to self-determination and freedom. This is not possible without accountability, respect for international law and the protection of human rights. Without these, lasting peace will remain a mission impossible. 

Israel has called for the disarmament of Hamas before talks. 

Shame on them. Who is the victim and who is the aggressor? We don’t have nuclear arms, Israel does. We don’t have the strongest army, Israel does. We are not occupying Israel, Israel is occupying us. We don’t impose an apartheid system, they do. Are we the ones committing genocide, occupation and starvation? No. We are the victims—for 78 years—of Israel’s military occupation. We didn’t build settlements in the West Bank. We didn’t carry out ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem or place a million settlers there. We didn’t commit genocide in Gaza. Shame on those who twist the truth. Israel must end the occupation and allow the Palestinian people to practise their right to dignity and freedom by establishing their state next to Israel. 

The problem is not Hamas. The problem is Israel’s refusal to recognise any Palestinian political entity. For them, the Palestinian people simply do not exist. They killed Arafat. They call our president a terrorist. They label the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organisation terrorist organisations. Whether it is Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine or any secular or nationalist Palestinian group, Israel sees them all as enemies. We compromised 78 per cent of historical Palestine and the reality is that we are the victims of Israel and of a west that supports it blindly.

What role do you see for the Palestinian Authority and the PLO going forward?

The PLO is the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. It should be respected and enabled to act in the interests of our people. The PLO should take the leading role in practising our right to self-determination and independence. The PA must coordinate reconstruction and governance across Gaza and the West Bank. Fragmentation is not a solution.

How do you view India’s support for Palestine historically and now?

Our relation with India is historical. It is one of the great countries with great people who struggled against the British colonial system. They know what colonialism, racism and freedom mean. That’s why it was very legitimate for us to have the support, from day one, of the people of India and the Indian government. We want India’s moral, human and political support for the people of Palestine. We know it exists in their hearts and minds and narrow interests should not override that. I don’t understand how India can cooperate with Israel in space projects, in the arms industry or support Israel with immunisations. We cannot understand that. We want India—the ethical India, the real India—to stand for principles and shared standards. We want the India of Mahatma Gandhi, the free and committed people of India, to support justice and dignity for Palestinians against criminal genocide and occupation. We know where the hearts of Indian people lie and how much they support us. But we want this reconciliation once again and India to be in real support of the Palestinian people for justice and dignity. 

What role can India play in resolving the conflict?

India can help in reconstruction by rebuilding hospitals, schools, homes and supporting electricity and water supply. It has credibility with both western and Arab countries and can act as a bridge to guarantee reconstruction and dignity for Palestinians. India must play an active role, not just a symbolic presence at the table. It can also press for accountability at the United Nations to deliver dignity and justice. 

How do you assess the role of the US in this conflict? 

We are being killed with American bombs, with American F-16s and F-35s, with American ammunition and tanks. The US and Europe support Israel with arms, with legal and political protection and with military and economic aid. All we are asking for is dignity and justice according to international law. We don’t ask for more. The US holds the greatest leverage over Israel, yet it chose not to use it. Instead, it provided political and military cover for Israeli crimes. The US even threatened and sanctioned judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court because they wanted to hold Israeli leaders accountable for their crimes. The double standards are obvious—one set of rules for the powerful, another for the occupied. We want the US to be a fair broker—to stop giving Israel full immunity, to stop arming them and to make them abide by the rule of law, respect international law and implement UN resolutions. To achieve that, there has to be political will, not just statements. The Palestinian people are entitled to justice, self-determination and independence. For two years, the world watched the killing, destruction, famine and displacement. Now action is required and that means stop arming Israel, stop supporting its crimes, respect human rights and international law. If Washington truly believes in democracy, human rights and international law, it must act accordingly. 

What is the role of regional powers like Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia? 

Egypt and Qatar have played vital and strategic roles in mediation, especially in securing ceasefires and negotiating humanitarian access. Saudi Arabia also has been involved behind the scenes. We appreciate their efforts, but regional support must go beyond managing crises; it must address the root causes. The Arab world must unite behind justice, international law and human rights. Temporary truces are not enough. We need a political solution that ends occupation and creates a viable Palestinian state. Arab countries must support reconstruction, unity and independence. We want support for international and humanitarian law, but more than that, support for justice, dignity, self-determination and independence. 

After immense losses, what does “strategic optimism” mean for Gaza and its people?

Strategic optimism is the belief that no matter how dark the night, the dawn will come. It is not naive hope, it is strength rooted in justice. When fighting for a just cause, you cannot lose. They can destroy our homes, schools and hospitals, but they cannot destroy our will. That is something no bomb can erase. Our optimism is our strategy, our resistance and our way of survival. People across the globe—from Tokyo to New York and from South Africa to Sweden—have shown solidarity. With every child, every mother, every person who still believes in tomorrow—that optimism keeps Palestine alive. We are on the right side of history. Tomorrow belongs to the people of Palestine. 

I want a new home for my family

By Moaz Al-Amour

IN 735 DAYS OF WAR, I have lived through unimaginable horror—genocide, forced displacement, constant fear. We have endured starvation and the absence of the most basic necessities, and human rights.

Before the war, I was a journalist—married and father of two. A week after the war, I was forced to leave Gaza City to save my family. My eldest daughter, Julia, fell sick—terrified by the sound of relentless bombings. My younger child, Jad, was still in his mother’s womb. Like any Palestinian father, I only wanted to protect my family.

Journalism has always been my passion—not just my profession. At the beginning of the war, it became my sole means of supporting my family. As the crisis deepened and famine spread, we struggled to afford basic goods.

Working as a journalist in Gaza is perhaps the most dangerous job. Beyond the lack of equipment, we face constant internet blackouts, severe transport crises and the ever-present risk of being targeted by Israeli forces.

Throughout the war, I lived in constant search of shelter. My only goal was to keep my family safe. The truth is no place in Gaza is safe. We tried to move as far as possible from Israeli tanks that could besiege us and starve us again. People in Gaza even feared being near journalists—afraid that the proximity might invite danger.

I look forward to reuniting with my family after a month of separation. My only wish is to find a new home—a place where my children can grow up without fear, violence and with a hope of a future.

The writer is a Palestinian journalist.