Through Nakba, exile and genocide, my aunt Fatima never lost faith

Through Nakba, exile and genocide, my aunt Fatima never lost faith Submitted by Ahmed Abu Artema on Tue, 05/12/2026 - 17:35 My aunt endured every chapter of Palestinian dispossession, including exile, demolition, prison, separation and the grief of outliving her children - yet never surrendered to despair My aunt, Fatima, lived a life filled with hardship, but she never lost her inner peace. She left this world expressing satisfaction and faith (Photo supplied) On My aunt Fatima, known as "Umm Sidqi", was one of many Palestinian women whose personal story reflected both the tragedy and resilience of the Palestinian people - from the Nakba in 1948 to the final chapter of her life during the genocidal war on Gaza in 2023. She was not just my aunt. She was my second mother. Allah gave her to me to compensate for my separation from my own mother, and filled her heart with compassion towards me from my earliest childhood. She used to say she loved me like one of her own children. Even without saying it, her love was always evident. That love was mutual. I grew up deeply attached to her, and my affection for her remained alive in my heart until her final days. Her visits to my father's house or mine always brought joy and warmth. Though I grew older, the child inside me who rejoiced at her arrival never disappeared. I visited her often. I would sit beside her, listening to her stories about the Nakba, the First Intifada and everything that came between and after them. Allah blessed Umm Sidqi with acceptance among people. She had no conflicts with anyone, and everyone loved her. She would often repeat to me: "The tranquil soul will find paradise." Allah also blessed her with a st...

Original source: Middle East Eye