The images and videos we are seeing will never leave us
It's a reality that we can’t comprehend.
CW: No images of dead children, babies or videos are used in this article. Writings on genocide, massacres, murder, death — of young children and babies.
Some of us have seen the video, some of us have heard of it. I’ve seen it. Something inside me churned uncomfortably as I held my breath.
I saw tweets, comments, posts from people shocked — in fact, they were in shock. And in that shock, they expressed disbelief.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
I remember this happening when an image of Alan Kurdi (born Alan Shenu), a Syrian baby was washed on the shore of Turkey after crossing the border, attempting to escape civil war with his family, and unfortunately not making it.
Today I see it with the massacre in Rafah.
But these deaths are not new.
Instead, it became visceral. It was presented with no warning, no filter, no censorship — just the truth. A reality that we can’t comprehend.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
And we still see people supporting Israel, asking about the release of prisoners and Hamas.
We wonder how they feel when they see what we do. Does their stomach turn too? Are they in shock?
Does Biden hold his breath while a child’s body is held up to camera, headless.
Does Starmer rethink his stance when legs are pulled from fiery camps, with no one attached to them.
I find myself desperate to find out these answers and simultaneously scared to hear what they will say. Scared the word ‘Hamas’ will ring in my ears, when they didn’t kill the babies I’m asking about.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
Drawings of hell have come to life.
But we can’t just watch, holding our stomachs in shock. We can’t be passive observers. The point is to fight for the right to live.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
It’s always been the way — when you feel lost, you can find your way with a community of solidarity, through a shared support of love.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing”
