Colonialism, Internal Marginalization, and Identity Transformations Among Youth in Gaza

By: Ali AbdelWahab

Introduction

Identity is not merely a historical inheritance; it is an ongoing battle continuously reshaped by shifting power dynamics and political realities. In Gaza, where the violent tremors of modern colonialism intersect with internal political marginalization, Palestinian youth are no longer active participants in a collective national project. Instead, they find themselves trapped between an inherited discourse of resistance and an imposed reality that narrows their choices to individual survival. Since 2007, when Palestinian political time effectively froze, a new generation has emerged—one that has known nothing but political isolation, division, and siege. This generation has never engaged in real political participation and has been left with a distorted digital space where resistance is more of a symbolic act than a tangible political experience.

The modern colonial system operates through the dismantling of collective memory and the reengineering of consciousness via military repression and intellectual restrictions. As a result, Palestinian youth face a closed political landscape, where nationalism is reduced to symbolic representations that rarely transcend rhetorical acts. At the same time, Palestinian ruling forces have not been immune to reproducing this marginalization. Once political actors, they have now become administrative intermediaries, reinforcing political isolation rather than dismantling it. This crisis did not emerge in a vacuum but is the outcome of long-standing accumulations, leaving Gaza’s youth in a state of political disorientation—unable to participate in decision-making while their national identity is transformed from a collective pursuit of liberation into an individualized struggle for survival.

Amid these persistent challenges, this paper poses critical questions: How has the marginalization of Palestinian youth in Gaza—both by the Palestinian leadership and the multi-faceted mechanisms of Israeli domination, old and new—contributed to the distortion of this generation’s national identity? How can we explain the shift from collective to individual identities under such harsh conditions? What role does social media play in accelerating these transformations? And what mechanisms exist to counteract this marginalization, which continues to blur the collective memory of Palestinian youth? These are not merely philosophical-political reflections; they serve as an entry point for a deeper understanding of how Palestinian national identity is being dismantled among Gaza’s youth through the parallel forces of colonial hegemony and internal marginalization. This paper seeks to answer these pressing questions and explore pathways for reclaiming Palestinian national identity among youth through innovative social strategies and political recommendations, ultimately empowering them to reclaim their role in decision-making and bear the burden of national struggle once again.

The General Reality of Palestinian Youth in Gaza: Between Marginalization and Resentment – Introductory Overview

In Gaza, Palestinian youth serve as a living reflection of the complexities and fractures of identity and resilience in the face of political and colonial challenges. Since the escalation of Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023, statistics depicting their reality have become more than mere numbers—they stand as evidence of a systematic process of genocide aimed at dismantling an entire generation and erasing its future. Youth between the ages of 15 and 29 comprise approximately 28% of Gaza’s population, making them the most affected demographic. The war has resulted in the deaths of thousands of young Palestinians, who account for nearly 25% of the victims of this mass extermination.

Despite high levels of education among youth—where 18% of those aged 18-29 hold a bachelor's degree or higher—these qualifications have been rendered meaningless in a reality where universities are reduced to rubble and aspirations are buried beneath the debris. By the end of 2023, youth unemployment had surpassed 75%, reaching a staggering 91% among university graduates. The prospect of a dignified life has become nothing more than an illusion, particularly after the collapse of economic sectors, the destruction of thousands of workplaces, and the desperate struggle for basic necessities such as drinking water.

This dire reality is further compounded by the fact that, even before the war, 60% of Gaza’s youth were already outside the realms of employment, education, or training—trapped within a system designed to keep them on the margins of life. With over 80% of Gaza’s population reliant on humanitarian aid, existence in Gaza has become synonymous with oppression and despair.

Such conditions foster a powerful tendency toward "individual salvation." According to the Arab Barometer Survey of 2023, approximately 44% of Gaza’s youth expressed a desire to leave the Strip if given the opportunity. Their aspirations are driven by the erosion of hope after more than 17 years of blockade, a situation exacerbated by the brutality of war. However, even escape has become a privilege, as Israel’s control over border crossings ensures that the occupation dictates every possible avenue of life.

Although 83% of young Palestinians own smartphones, their digital connectivity has not translated into genuine political expression or participation. Instead, they face severe restrictions on freedom of speech and a strict policing of their self-narrative. This is evident in Israel’s so-called "security screening" mechanisms, which impose control over Palestinian movement and mobility. Internally, the political marginalization imposed by Palestinian ruling forces (Fatah & Hamas) has further alienated youth from decision-making circles, with state repression silencing political dissent on social media platforms. The political division has only deepened this exclusion, obstructing the possibility of a unified national vision that reflects their aspirations. As a result, Palestinian youth in Gaza find themselves trapped between the hammer of Israeli occupation and the anvil of internal marginalization, in a reality marked by estrangement, uncertainty, and an overwhelming sense of insecurity.

Under these dire conditions—both before and since the genocide—feelings of resentment and frustration have escalated, accelerating the gradual fragmentation of collective identity. This phenomenon aligns with Francis Fukuyama’s argument in Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, where he highlights resentment as a force capable of shaping new identities that emerge from unmet demands for dignity and belonging. According to Fukuyama, resentment becomes destructive when individuals lose their sense of dignity within their collective framework, pushing them to seek alternative, individualized identities as a form of escape.

In the Palestinian context, the marginalization and suppression of youth voices—whether through Israeli colonial hegemony or Palestinian political exclusion—have intensified this resentment. As frustration deepens, the capacity of youth to build a unified movement diminishes, and collective identity gradually disintegrates. Legitimate demands for dignity and justice are reduced to isolated cries that reinforce individual alienation.

At this juncture, the role of Palestinian youth shifts from being agents of liberation to individuals trapped in a cycle of perpetual resentment. This shift threatens to dismantle Palestinian collective identity, creating an ever-widening generational gap and paving the way for the erosion of the national project[1].

This reality demands the reconstruction of genuine spaces for youth engagement—spaces that reinforce their national belonging and provide real opportunities for expression and participation. Only by addressing this growing discontent and redirecting it toward a collective project of liberation and dignity can the fragmentation of Palestinian identity be resisted.

Neo-Colonialism tools in Shaping Palestinian Youth Consciousness and Its Impact on Identity:

Settler colonialism—neocolonialism—is far more complex than traditional forms of colonial rule, as it seeks to manipulate the consciousness of occupied populations in ways that strip them of both their identity and their will to resist. In the Palestinian context, modern colonial tools specifically target the short-term and long-term consciousness of Palestinian youth, directly shaping their future behaviors and national aspirations. This colonial strategy operates by redefining fundamental concepts of freedom, dignity, and belonging, transforming them from collective principles tied to national liberation into individualistic notions centered on personal success and self-preservation. As a result, national identity and citizenship are devalued, replaced by a search for identity and belonging outside of Palestine.

First: Hegemony[2] in Reshaping Consciousness and Repackaging the Concepts of Freedom, Dignity, and Belonging

Israel, as a colonial power, seeks to reshape and discipline the consciousness of Palestinian youth, systematically molding it to reinforce dependency on the colonial system. This process involves stripping concepts such as freedom, dignity, and belonging of their collective national meaning and repackaging them as individualistic values tied to personal success, consumerism, and participation in the free market. According to Michel Foucault’s concept of disciplinary power, modern power structures do not rely solely on direct oppression but instead operate through the regulation of knowledge, behavior, and aspirations. This disciplinary power ensures that individuals internalize the logic of control, making them govern themselves in ways that align with the colonial system’s objectives.

In the Palestinian context, this hegemony is realized through economic dependency, where control over income sources and employment opportunities forces youth to prioritize personal achievements, such as securing jobs or emigrating, over collective resistance. The very meaning of dignity and freedom is privatized, linked to personal success rather than to national sovereignty, while belonging is transformed from a commitment to liberation into an act of survival within colonial constraints. Through this transformation, freedom becomes an individual privilege rather than a collective right, dignity is measured by career advancement rather than by national struggle, and belonging is redefined as adaptation to colonial dominance rather than active resistance against it. In parallel, the sense of collective responsibility for national struggle erodes, and the very notion of Palestinian liberation is undermined by a colonial system that systematically reconfigures youth consciousness and fractures their national identity.

Second: Cognitive Offloading and the Regulation of Resistance Consciousness—Trust in Colonial Narratives Through Social Media:

Digital media has become one of the most effective tools in emptying Palestinian consciousness of its resistance content, transforming it from a collective struggle for liberation into fragmented, individualized expressions limited to momentary engagement on social media. Israel exploits these platforms to construct narratives that diminish the significance of Palestinian resistance, subtly promoting values of submission and self-absorption, fostering a sense of uncertainty and detachment from national concerns. This shift leads to a redefinition of political engagement, where activism is reduced to fleeting digital interactions rather than sustained collective mobilization.

For instance, during Israeli military offensives on Gaza, social media platforms are flooded with evacuation instructions and so-called safety guidelines, which appear to provide humanitarian assistance but, in reality, function as a mechanism to reinforce dependency on Israeli authorities as the primary source of survival. This deepens what is known as cognitive offloading, a psychological process in which individuals outsource their knowledge and crisis responses to external authorities instead of critically engaging with the root cause of their oppression—the occupation itself. As a result, Palestinian youth begin to view the colonial power as the only credible authority on matters of survival, further entrenching their dependence on its institutions.

At the same time, Israel actively utilizes digital propaganda platforms such as "Israel in Arabic" and the social media presence of (Avichay Adraee) to construct a strategic juxtaposition—portraying Israeli society as a model of individual success and freedom while depicting Palestinian resistance, regardless of its form, as futile and self-destructive. This carefully crafted narrative is designed to shift Palestinian youth away from collective struggle and redirect them toward individual survival, making personal success appear as the only viable path while rendering national resistance impractical or irrelevant.

This propaganda not only works to normalize the occupation but also positions it as a stabilizing force, suggesting that Israeli governance is more reliable than any Palestinian political representation. This strategic manipulation leads to a situation where youth begin to internalize colonial narratives as legitimate sources of knowledge, weakening their capacity to construct independent political and national perspectives.

Through this systematic use of digital media, Israeli hegemony disciplines Palestinian youth by regulating their sources of information, limiting their political discourse, and shifting their priorities from collective resistance to personal survival. Over time, youth identity becomes fragmented, transitioning from a collective consciousness of liberation to an individualized pursuit of security and self-fulfillment. This transformation erodes the historical, political, and strategic substance of Palestinian resistance, replacing it with a colonial narrative that cements individual survival as the ultimate goal while undermining the viability of collective resistance.

Third: Reframing the Displacement of Palestinians (Voluntary and Forced) as a Traditional Colonial Tool

With Trump's statements in February 2025 regarding the reconstruction of Gaza—explicitly linking it to the necessity of depopulating the Strip and preventing the return of Palestinians once displaced—the focus has once again shifted to the role of forced displacement as a core element of Israel’s settler-colonial project. Migration, whether voluntary or forced, has historically been one of the most dangerous colonial instruments used to empty Palestinian land of its people, severing them from their homeland and eroding their national identity.

The danger of voluntary migration lies in its indirect nature, where Palestinian youth in Gaza are pushed to seek better opportunities abroad due to the severe economic and social conditions that follow wars. These conditions are not incidental but function as a tool of attrition, making life in Gaza unbearable amid the destruction of infrastructure and the absence of reconstruction efforts. This policy facilitates the depopulation of Gaza, stripping the land of its most dynamic element—its youth—and transforming them into yet another layer of the Palestinian diaspora, disconnected from direct influence over the national struggle.

As Ghassan Kanafani illustrates in Returning to Haifa, migration represents not just the loss of land but the erosion of collective memory and national belonging. The act of leaving one’s homeland weakens the individual's historical connection to it, reducing their capacity to participate in national resistance. In the current context, Israel employs voluntary migration as a colonial tool designed to fragment Palestinian national identity, ensuring that Palestinians remain in a perpetual state of exile, instability, and displacement, where their refuge is anywhere but their homeland.

These policies extend beyond physical displacement to include psychological displacement, weakening Palestinian ties to their cause and identity. The result is a dismantling of social cohesion, producing a generation that feels detached from its national memory, making it easier for the occupation to maintain control over the land without facing collective resistance. Ultimately, both voluntary and forced migration serve as integral components of Israel’s colonial project, aiming to depopulate the land of its indigenous inhabitants and transform them into a fragmented community incapable of forming a cohesive resistance movement or rebuilding a unified national project. This tool systematically weakens Palestinian national identity by stripping it of its most vital element—its people.

Marginalization Tools by the PA, Hamas, and Other Palestinian Political Forces:

The political marginalization of Palestinian youth cannot be reduced solely to the policies of Palestinian factions; rather, it is the result of a far more complex equation in which Palestinians endure a dual dynamic of external colonialism and internal exclusion. While Palestinian leadership bears responsibility for sidelining youth, it also operates under immense pressure imposed by a colonial system designed to empty the national project of any independent youth-led political agency. As a result, internal marginalization is no longer merely a political miscalculation but has evolved into a reflection of a broader disintegration within the Palestinian political system itself.

Instead of functioning as a vehicle for representation, Palestinian governance has increasingly become a mere intermediary between society and external actors, operating within a crisis management framework rather than overcoming it. This structural transformation renders internal political exclusion not just a byproduct of poor leadership but a systemic issue tied to the erosion of Palestinian political agency. Thus, critiquing internal marginalization is not about absolving political factions or shifting blame but about recognizing how political dependency reinforces national fragility. Understanding these dynamics is strategically essential to confronting the crisis of political representation and reviving an independent national project.

First: Increasing Marginalization and Rhetoric Without Accountability in the Genocidal War

Palestinian political forces, including the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, have played a role in deepening the political marginalization of Palestinian youth by employing rhetoric that is detached from reality, failing to address the needs of the people—particularly young Palestinians. Instead, this discourse is primarily directed at external audiences or partisan supporters abroad, reflecting a growing disconnect between political leadership and the grassroots population. Rather than serving as a tool for genuine mobilization, this rhetoric is often used to justify inaction or project symbolic strength without committing to concrete steps to address the real challenges facing Palestinians or to restore national unity.

This phenomenon is evident in the repeated calls for national unity or factional mobilization, which lack credibility and fail to offer realistic solutions for the politically marginalized youth. During the ongoing genocidal war, these rhetorical strategies were frequently employed as a means to justify the ongoing war indirectly while also demonstrating a direct failure of leadership to take responsibility. Rather than acknowledging the collective suffering or presenting a tangible plan for the day after, political discourse remained performative and disconnected from urgent realities.

The philosopher Edward Said argued that such rhetoric functions as a cover for political paralysis and the failure to confront real crises. Instead of engaging with Palestinian youth, strengthening their sense of national identity, and integrating them into the collective process of building a shared future, political discourse has been reduced to factional posturing for external consumption. This approach exacerbates the fragmentation of Palestinian national identity, as partisan loyalties are prioritized over a unified national vision, further dismantling the social and political bonds that connect Palestinians.

This disconnects between political rhetoric and reality severely weakens the potential to build a cohesive grassroots movement capable of addressing shared challenges. As a result, the already fractured Palestinian national identity continues to erode, with youth feeling alienated from decision-making processes that directly impact their lives and future. This deepening sense of exclusion and detachment from the national project ultimately diminishes the possibility of constructing a collective vision that aligns with the aspirations of Palestinian youth for liberation and dignity, further undermining the unity of Palestinian identity in the face of colonialism.

Second: The Impact of Ongoing and Escalating Political Division Amid the Genocidal War

The prolonged political division between Fatah and Hamas since 2007 has significantly deepened the marginalization and frustration of Palestinian youth, particularly in Gaza. This division has not only paralyzed collective political action but has also fragmented Palestinian national identity, reinforcing factional loyalties at the expense of broader national interests. Rather than fostering unity in pursuit of national liberation, Palestinian political factions have prioritized their partisan interests, further entrenching the division.

Palestinian factional politics have increasingly favored partisan survival over national unity, where political agendas are driven by self-preservation rather than a commitment to collective liberation. According to a report by the Masarat Center, Palestinian youth feel that political factions exploit them as instruments for consolidating party power rather than addressing their socio-political realities or improving their living conditions. Instead of empowering youth as active participants in shaping their future, they are mobilized selectively for factional gains, deepening disillusionment and alienation.

Many young Palestinians in Gaza had hoped that the unprecedented destruction and mass casualties of the ongoing genocidal war would serve as a catalyst for national reconciliation—uniting Palestinian leadership to confront shared challenges. However, the opposite has occurred; instead of working toward unity, political factions have intensified their disputes, further eroding youth confidence in political leadership. The failure to reconcile even in the face of existential threats has reinforced feelings of betrayal and despair among Palestinian youth, who increasingly view political leadership as detached from the struggles of ordinary Palestinians.

As a result of the war’s aftermath, trust in Palestinian political forces has deteriorated, with youth losing faith in their ability to achieve national liberation or restore Palestinian dignity. The continued division has stifled attempts to rebuild a unified Palestinian national identity, widening the gap between different components of Palestinian society. According to Arab Barometer surveys, more than 66% of Palestinian youth in Gaza have lost confidence in the political leadership’s ability to advance any meaningful national project.

This widening division in the post-war context has intensified youth detachment from the Palestinian national movement, deepening the identity crisis among young Palestinians in Gaza. The political schism has become a primary obstacle preventing Palestinian youth from realizing their aspirations for freedom and dignity, as leadership remains locked in partisan calculations that ignore the broader national cause.

With this persistent internal division and worsening humanitarian conditions, there is growing concern that Palestinian identity will fracture into individualistic survivalist identities, eroding the collective spirit of resistance that once defined the national struggle. This fragmentation is most evident in the absence of a cohesive national vision that represents youth aspirations, as well as in the widespread loss of confidence in any unified national project. A report by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation highlights that many Palestinian youth have disengaged from the political system due to entrenched political divisions, corruption, and nepotism, leading them to retreat into secondary identities such as religious, familial, or tribal affiliations as a means of seeking stability in the absence of a functioning national framework.

Third: The Loss of Youth Political Participation and the Fragmentation of Collective Identity

Palestinian youth in Gaza and the West Bank suffer from chronic exclusion from meaningful political participation. No legislative or presidential elections have been held since 2006, and the situation is particularly dire for youth in Gaza, where they are completely barred from political engagement, including student elections in universities or even local council elections. In contrast, the West Bank allows for municipal and student elections, creating a stark disparity in youth representation between the two regions. This systematic exclusion has deprived an entire generation of the ability to influence national decision-making, deepening their sense of alienation and accelerating the disintegration of Palestinian collective identity.

Ghassan Kanafani, in his writings, highlights that the marginalization of Palestinian youth and their exclusion from decision-making processes are integral to the "destruction of the collective memory" of Palestinian resistance. By isolating young generations from political action, they are transformed from an active force into a disengaged generation disconnected from the national liberation project.

This crisis has become even more severe with the exclusion of youth from post-war reconstruction plans and recovery efforts despite being the most affected by the war and its consequences. The issue of rebuilding Gaza and post-war recovery is treated as a closed file, managed solely by political elites without any genuine inclusion of youth. This further deepens their marginalization and reinforces their sense of detachment, as they remain excluded from shaping their own future. The absence of youth participation in politics is not just a temporary setback—it threatens the long-term viability of the Palestinian national project.

The Dual Impact of Colonialism and Internal Marginalization on the National Identity of Palestinian Youth in Gaza

The interplay between internal marginalization and neo-colonialism creates a complex reality in which external control mechanisms and internal exclusion policies intersect to dismantle the national identity of Palestinian youth in Gaza. Neo-colonialism seeks to re-engineer youth consciousness by stripping freedom and dignity of their collective meanings and replacing them with individualistic values linked to personal success, leading to the fragmentation of the collective spirit. Simultaneously, Palestinian political forces reinforce this fragmentation by systematically excluding youth from national decision-making processes, even in the context of post-war reconstruction planning. This duality of marginalization and colonial control operates in parallel, where the occupation weakens attachment to the homeland by embedding misleading colonial narratives, while Palestinian leadership deepens this alienation by denying youth political agency and tools for influence. As a result, internal political division fuels a sense of detachment, loss of hope, and a fragmented identity that is unable to sustain a unified national project.

This overlapping structure of colonial dominance and internal exclusion is not a recent phenomenon but rather a reproduction of long-standing mechanisms of control, systematically eroding the historical memory of resistance and transforming collective hope into individual survival strategies. Consequently, Palestinian national identity is increasingly fractured, reduced to disconnected fragments struggling against an overwhelming crisis. The result is not just political disengagement but a profound shift in how Palestinian youth perceive their own identity, where steadfastness (sumud) becomes an individual act rather than a collective struggle.

The Palestinian Identity Crisis Between Itself and Gaza: Myth Recycling, the Symbolism of Anger, and Transformations in Collective Memory[3]

Palestinian youth in Gaza are not a homogeneous bloc; their consciousness has been shaped by distinct historical moments that have redefined their relationship with national identity and struggle. Youth who experienced the Second Intifada (2000–2005), for instance, developed their political awareness within a more deeply rooted resistance context, where collective identities remained intact due to direct political action and field confrontation. In contrast, the post-2007 generation, having grown up under siege and political division, has been confined to a politically empty and closed space where struggle is no longer a tangible experience but rather a rhetorical concept circulating in digital spaces. This shift has led to a reconfiguration of identity—from a national resistance identity to an individualized survival identity, where national belonging is redefined outside the collective action framework. This disparity in consciousness does not merely reflect differences in experience but signifies a deliberate restructuring of generational relationships to the liberation project. The debate is no longer about who leads the struggle but rather whether resistance itself remains a rational choice or has become an inherited burden with no viable outcome.

A close examination of social media discourse reveals that Palestinian identity in Gaza is undergoing a process of myth recycling, turning Gazans into symbolic resistance icons who are expected to endure suffering in an exceptional and superhuman manner. This idealized image deepens the communication gap between Gazans and other Palestinians, as Gaza’s youth are viewed not as individuals enduring relentless trauma but as abstract representations of heroic struggle. This narrative, reinforced by media portrayals, contributes to the construction of the "superhuman Gazan" myth, which ultimately traps youth within a collective image of resilience that disregards their psychological and human needs.

This mythologization creates an emotional chasm between Gazans and other Palestinians, where they are seen as resistance icons rather than as people with lived realities and individual experiences. As a result, youth in Gaza experience a deepening sense of isolation, feeling that they are instrumentalized as symbolic figures in national narratives while having no real agency in the decisions that shape their future. This sense of alienation accelerates the fragmentation of Palestinian national identity, pushing youth toward individualized identities shaped by frustration and disillusionment.

With the escalation of the latest war, a new language of opposition and anger has emerged among Gaza’s youth, best represented by the "tent symbolism", which has become an expression of defiance against imposed realities and a protest against the political forces responsible for the worsening conditions. One of the most recurring phrases seen in responses to social media posts about steadfastness (sumud) is: "Have you ever tried living in a tent?" or "Lucky you, at least you have a toilet."

The tent has evolved into a symbol of demanding a reconstructed reality rather than accepting ineffective symbolic slogans. In this context, the use of sharp criticism and even outright verbal attacks toward other Palestinians reflects a deep sense of betrayal, as youth in Gaza feel abandoned by political factions and national institutions that have failed to offer meaningful solidarity and action.

Social media has thus become a space for venting anger and protest, yet it remains a temporary outlet for emotional expression that does not translate into sustained political action. Instead of unifying efforts to confront shared challenges, social media amplifies individual frustrations, contributing to the hollowing out of collective resistance consciousness.

On another level, the repeated wars on Gaza—from the 2008–2009 assault to the 2023 genocide—have profoundly shaped the collective memory of Palestinian youth. For those who came of age after the 2007 division, constant trauma has become a defining feature of daily life. The erosion of steadfastness (sumud) as a collective narrative has led to a shift from a resistance-centered identity to one based on personal pain and suffering. The loss of loved ones, destruction of homes, and perpetual fear have become fundamental elements of youth consciousness, causing a redefinition of “homeland”—no longer as a space for collective liberation but as a site of individual suffering and survival.

These transformations have profoundly impacted how Palestinian youth perceive national identity. Disillusionment and despair drive many to seek a future beyond Gaza’s borders, reinforcing the urge for individual escape rather than collective struggle for freedom. As these dynamics intensify, national identity becomes increasingly fragmented, weakening the ability of Palestinians to construct a unified liberation project.

This reality produces a complex equation of isolation, internal marginalization, and systematic colonial targeting, reducing Palestinian national identity to a fractured and disjointed condition. In this context, the Palestinian national project risks losing one of its most crucial components—its youth, who should be at the forefront of resistance and liberation. Addressing this crisis requires a reassessment of both political and media discourse to focus on unifying efforts, strengthening collective identity, and reconstructing a national memory of resistance that reconnects young generations with their cause. A renewed emphasis on freedom as a collective action rather than a scattered individual pursuit is essential to restoring a cohesive Palestinian identity capable of resisting fragmentation and external control.

Recommendations:

1. Reintegrating Palestinian Youth into the Political Process: Participation in National Decision-Making

It is essential to actively involve Palestinian youth in the political process by empowering them within decision-making bodies, particularly in post-war reconstruction efforts. This can be achieved through:

• Allocating quotas for youth in political and national institutions: A designated percentage of seats should be reserved for youth in legislative councils and governing bodies to ensure that their voices and aspirations are represented.

• Establishing youth-led reconstruction committees: These committees should have direct responsibilities in setting reconstruction priorities and proposing practical solutions.

• Encouraging comprehensive national dialogue with youth participation: National dialogue conferences should include youth from all regions and Palestinian factions to discuss national challenges and propose a unified vision for the future.

2. Strategies to Counter Colonial Tools and Strengthen National Consciousness Through social media

Social media is a critical battleground where Palestinian awareness is reshaped through surveillance, algorithmic manipulation, and the spread of colonial narratives. Rather than creating new platforms that struggle to gain traction, a tactical and realistic approach should focus on effectively utilizing existing platforms. To achieve this, the following strategies should be implemented:

• Targeted Digital Awareness Campaigns:

  • Utilizing data analytics to understand audience behavior and tailor content based on each platform’s algorithmic tendencies.

  • Producing short and impactful visual content, such as Reels, TikTok videos, and Threads, to compete with Israeli digital propaganda, emphasizing human stories that highlight the impact of colonial policies.

  • Leveraging Palestinian and international influencers to expand the reach of content beyond internal Palestinian audiences.

• Developing a Practical Guide to Overcoming Digital Censorship:

  • Creating an interactive digital guide on how to navigate platform restrictions and content bans on major social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).

  • Providing strategies to increase organic engagement without triggering content bans, such as rewording restricted terms and using coded visual and linguistic cues.

  • Sharing successful case studies of how content restrictions were bypassed, including pre-documentation strategies and multi-channel content dissemination techniques.

• Countering Colonial Narratives with Tactical Messaging:

  • Launching counter-campaigns that dismantle Israeli narratives in a way tailored to international audiences, not just Palestinian or Arab viewers.

  • Developing a practical guide on how to debunk common misinformation using legal and human rights arguments supported by official documents and international reports.

  • Training Palestinian youth groups in digital discourse analysis to identify and deconstruct propaganda techniques used against Palestinians with scientific and methodological precision.

• Undermining Colonial Content Within Social Media Ecosystems:

  • Instead of merely posting Palestinian content, efforts should actively infiltrate Israeli propaganda spaces by organizing strategic engagement in comment sections and responses that challenge false narratives.

  • Targeting global discussion platforms such as Reddit and Quora to expose Israeli disinformation with factual, well-structured arguments.

  • Utilizing AI and digital analytics to track emerging Israeli narrative trends and proactively counter them before they gain widespread traction.

3. Developing Social and Political Projects: Social-Political Entrepreneurship to Rebuild Palestinian Identity

To reconstruct fragmented Palestinian identity, efforts should focus on social and political initiatives that foster collective belonging and national solidarity among youth across different communities. This can be achieved through projects that rebuild social cohesion and promote active participation in public life:

• Encouraging Youth-Led Initiatives to Strengthen Community Engagement:

  • Providing micro-grants to fund youth-led community awareness projects, psychological support campaigns, and informal education programs.

  • Incentivizing volunteer-based initiatives by offering tax exemptions for companies that support community projects.

  • Establishing social incubators for youth in Gaza and the West Bank, equipping them with skills to manage community projects and drive social innovation.

• Building Support Networks Connecting Palestinians Inside and in the Diaspora:

  • Developing digital platforms that facilitate knowledge-sharing between Palestinian youth in Palestine and abroad, ensuring diverse and contextually relevant content.

  • Creating professional digital communities that allow Palestinians to exchange expertise in work, education, and the arts, strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration.

  • Launching experience-exchange programs that connect Palestinian youth in the diaspora with their counterparts in Palestine through interactive digital projects.

• Launching Cultural and Artistic Initiatives to Reconstruct Collective Identity:

  • Supporting the production of documentaries and theatrical performances that narrate Palestinian history and identity, ensuring they reach global audiences through multilingual translations.

  • Utilizing visual arts (painting, graffiti, photography) as tools of cultural resistance, redefining Palestinian identity through contemporary artistic expression.

  • Establishing virtual art exhibitions to showcase Palestinian experiences from diverse perspectives.

• Promoting Social-Political Entrepreneurship to Rebuild National Identity:

  • Developing training programs to cultivate leadership skills in community and political engagement, in partnership with academic institutions and research centers.

  • Launching youth think tanks to study Palestinian issues from a youth perspective, proposing alternative policies that address generational needs.

  • Supporting initiatives focused on solidarity-based social economies, such as cooperative projects that reduce dependency on foreign aid and promote local economic resilience.

In the end:

Reviving Palestinian national identity is not merely a nostalgic exercise but a future-oriented project that requires a reconstruction of collective consciousness beyond nostalgia and passive acceptance of reality. This paper does not treat the identity crisis as a rhetorical dilemma but rather as a contested space that intersects with colonial structures on one hand and internal marginalization on the other. Liberatory knowledge, as employed here, is not neutral knowledge but rather a form of resistance against epistemic depletion and cognitive reengineering. It is the cornerstone of rebuilding an individual who takes control of their own destiny, rather than remaining trapped between the discourse of resistance and adaptation to defeat.

If the recommendations presented here are implemented—ranging from reintegrating youth into political decision-making to revitalizing the solidarity economy and enhancing digital resistance strategies—Palestinians will not only reframe the relationship between the individual and the homeland but also establish a new vision of identity that transcends outdated models of loyalty and belonging. This identity would be more dynamic, rooted in action and participation rather than symbolic representation. The solution does not lie solely in rebuilding the material landscape but in reconstructing the Palestinian individual as the primary actor in resisting a colonial structure that seeks to either subjugate or dismantle them.

Ali AbdelWahab Bio:

Ali Abdel-Wahab: (Policy member at Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network) is a data analyst and policy researcher with over 7 years of experience in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) within the humanitarian sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and is keenly interested in big data and computational social sciences. Ali aims to leverage these tools in his research on political economy, digital transformation, network society, and technological and informational dominance, particularly concerning Palestine. He has published numerous articles and academic papers and is committed to developing innovative solutions to support decision-making and effective policy management.