Palestinian Reflections on Sumud: Hanan Ashrawi and Omar Haramy
Dear friend of Sabeel,
For this week of Advent we wanted to share with you what Sumud means to Palestinian Christians who believe in a non violent way to reach peace with justice. Below are their reflections.
Omar Haramy, Director of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
In Palestine, we live Sumud, a steadfastness that embodies resilience, patience, and an unwavering commitment to justice and dignity. For us, Sumud is not just resistance; it is the courage to live in the light of Christ’s example, even when the weight of oppression feels unbearable.
In the face of barriers and hardships, Palestinians have transformed existence into an act of Sumud. We hold on to our land, our homes, and our heritage, refusing to be uprooted, even when forces try to drive us away. The poet Mahmoud Darwish, in his reflection on Palestinian steadfastness, writes, "We have on this earth what makes life worth living." These words resonate as we stand for hours at checkpoints, applying for permits simply to worship, striving to build our homes again and again, even when they are unjustly destroyed.
Jesus taught us to stand with dignity in the face of adversity. When He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9), He called us to pursue peace, not through passivity, but through a courageous commitment to justice and love. Sumud teaches us that we are called to seek not only a physical presence on the land but also to embody steadfastness in our values. Our path is nonviolent, rooted in inclusivity, and a deep love for humanity, even when faced with the temptation to respond in anger.
In our steadfastness, we answer the call of Christ—to live in faith, to resist injustice, and to stand firm in hope and love, carrying forth the good news even in challenging times.
Hanan Ashrawi, Palestinian Christian, politician, activist and scholar
“The Palestinian people have lived Sumud for a century, rejecting their dehumanization and erasure, protecting their identity and narrative, and struggling for freedom from Israel’s colonial enterprise while thriving and contributing to humanity in all fields. Sumud includes sustaining a vibrant, active, diverse, principled civil society that elevates the voices of citizens, leaves no one behind, and ensures that women’s rights are not suppressed or sidelined.”
Source: This Week in Palestine, June 2021