In Arabic, there are two words that mean "resistance." One refers to armed resistance, while the other signifies a different kind of resistance—one where, no matter how many times you are struck down, you rise again and refuse to back down, standing firm no matter what.
This is called "Sumud."In 2005, Juliano Mer-Khamis, an actor with both Jewish and Palestinian roots, visited the Utoro district. When he signed a signboard in Utoro, he wrote this word, "Sumud." The signboard in Utoro carried messages such as "Utoro is our home," "Even if bulldozers come, we will stay here," and "We will live here, and we will die here."
Reflecting on these words, Juliano said, "How many times have I heard the same words from the first-generation refugees in the Jenin refugee camp? This is Sumud. Knowing that there are people in Japan fighting the same fight as us gives us courage and strengthens our resolve."

Special Exhibition: Gaza and Palestine, Past and Present Sumud/Resistance at the Utoro Peace Memorial Museum has been organized in cooperation with Oka Mari in response to the crisis in Gaza where many civilians, particularly children, are falling victim to massacres committed by the state of Israel. This situation is not a recent occurrence but rather an extension of the long-standing occupation, blockade, and numerous massacres by the Israeli state.

The continuous state violence perpetrated by Israel is not only inhumane but also violates the UN Charter and various international laws. Despite this, the "international community" has often remained silent and passive, at times even defending Israel instead of holding it accountable.

Although more than 140 out of 193 UN member countries recognize Palestine as a state, all G7 countries, including Japan, do not.

For over 70 years, Israel's unacceptable violence has been tolerated, and the rights of the Palestinian people have been trampled upon. Is this not because we have considered this issue as unrelated to ourselves?

If the "international community" and we, the citizens, continue to forget and ignore Palestine's history, not only will we fail to stop the massacres occurring at this moment, but we will also pave the way for more atrocities.

What can we do now? As an act of solidarity with people facing overwhelming violence driven by colonialism and racism, we believe our responsibility is to convey the history and present situation of Gaza, Palestine accurately to a wide audience.