Everyday Palestinian resistance,resilience,and recovery to violent Israeli occupation: An interview study

Abstract

Palestinians living under Israeli occupation experience significant political violence, resulting in high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic stress. To effectively support Palestinians affected by trauma, it is essential to understand the culturally specific ways in which they interpret and cope with political violence. This study employs interviews conducted in 2022-23 with 20 Palestinian participants (mean age = 34.4 years, SD = 15.65, range = 19–73) who have lived under Israeli occupation. The research explores how Palestinians conceptualize trauma and the coping mechanisms they employ. A phenomenological analysis of interview transcripts, emphasizing participants’ subjective experiences, reveals four central themes: (1) narratives of trauma were not centered on individual suffering but rather on bearing witness to the suffering of others; (2) the establishment of trust and interpersonal relationships was critical to coping with traumatic stress; (3) participants reframed their trauma within the broader collective Palestinian narrative, often by contextualizing their experiences in relation to those who had suffered more severely; and (4) participants found agency through acts of resistance, particularly by educating others about Palestinian experiences under occupation. We interpret these findins through a comparative lens, contrasting the individualistic medical model of PTSD and trauma recovery with culturally sensitive approaches to trauma and resilience. The study underscores the significance of social support, sumud (steadfastness), and collective resistance in aiding in the management of traumatic stress. These insights have practical implications for therapists working with Palestinian populations and individuals from collectivist cultures, highlighting the importance of culturally informed coping mechanisms in such contexts.