The Celebration of Death: Martyrdom in Palestinian Culture

Written by Jerry Elman, October 13, 2024

Western media ignores it. Western culture can not comprehend it. Progressives play into it. The concept of death is more important than life. It’s at the very heart of the Israel/Palestinian Conflict.

The most chilling aspect of the martyrdom culture in Palestinian society is how death, rather than being mourned, is celebrated. In stark contrast to Western values that prioritize life above all else, martyrdom in the Palestinian context is viewed as the ultimate honor, especially in communities influenced by groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Mothers of martyrs, in particular, are expected to express joy and pride at the death of their children rather than grief. They are often seen on television, holding up the photographs of their fallen sons and daughters, not with tears but with the language of celebration and sacrifice, publicly expressing their gratitude that their children have died for the cause.

This social expectation is not accidental—it is deliberately cultivated by the same forces that promote the martyrdom narrative. The families of martyrs are lionized, given a place of special honor in their communities, and their children are held up as heroes who have ascended to a higher status in both religious and nationalistic terms. The Palestinian Authority even plays a significant role in this process, paying generous stipends to the families of martyrs—sometimes more than it pays civil servants. This financial incentive is a powerful force, especially in a society struggling under occupation and economic instability, where martyrdom becomes not only a pathway to honor but also to financial security for one’s family.

This cultural celebration of death is fundamentally at odds with Western ideals, where life is seen as the most sacred value. In the West, the death of a child in violent conflict is universally regarded as a tragedy, evoking deep mourning and public outcry. Yet, for many Palestinians, martyrdom is presented not as a loss but as a gain, a religious and nationalist triumph that transcends the sorrow of the individual family. This glorification is reinforced through state-sponsored media, religious rhetoric, and public ceremonies, making martyrdom an key element of Palestinian resistance, especially in the face of Israel’s military superiority.

The Cultural Divide: Life vs. Death

This celebration of death starkly contrasts how Western cultures approach conflict and loss. In Western societies, life is valued above all else. Governments, institutions, and families are built around the preservation of life, with military and political strategies often focused on minimizing casualties. The Western mind, shaped by centuries of philosophical and religious traditions that place life at the center of moral considerations, struggles to understand how any culture could value death over life.

This disconnect leads to a profound misunderstanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Western media and progressive circles. In Western narratives, Palestinians who die in the conflict are seen as victims—casualties of an asymmetric struggle against a more powerful Israel. Israel, with its advanced military and technological capabilities, is cast as the oppressor, and those who die in conflict, mainly civilians, are viewed as innocents caught in the crossfire. The idea that some Palestinians might actively seek out martyrdom or that their families might celebrate their death is so foreign to the Western mind that it is often dismissed as propaganda or incomprehensible behavior.

Yet, this is precisely the crux of the conflict: a culture that glorifies death facing off against a nation that prioritizes survival. Israel’s right to defend itself is complicated by the fact that it faces an enemy for whom death is not merely an unfortunate outcome but an ideal to be pursued. How does a nation like Israel, which exists in a region where survival is a constant battle, contend with an ideology that views the death of its own people as a victory?

Israel’s Struggle to Defeat a Culture of Martyrdom

For Israel, the challenge of confronting this martyrdom culture is one of the most difficult facets of the conflict. Military might alone cannot defeat an enemy whose strategy is built around celebrating death. Every Israeli airstrike, every ground operation that results in the death of a Palestinian civilian, even when that civilian is being used as a human shield by Hamas, is framed as a victory for the martyrdom narrative. The images of destruction and loss are used to rally international condemnation against Israel further, and the dead are enshrined as martyrs in the Palestinian cause.

The West sees Israel’s military superiority as evidence of its power and control in the conflict. Still, in the eyes of many Palestinians, it is the cause of their suffering—a suffering they believe can only be redeemed through the blood of martyrs. This is the heart of the psychological battle Israel faces. No matter how carefully targeted its military responses may be, no matter how justified its defense against terrorism, every Palestinian death plays into the hands of those who glorify martyrdom.

Western calls for proportionality, ceasefires, and peace negotiations often fail to account for this cultural dynamic. For as long as death is seen as a triumph in Palestinian society, any attempt to negotiate a lasting peace will be undermined. Israel, a nation born out of the ashes of the Holocaust, where survival is not only a right but a necessity, cannot allow itself to be painted as the oppressor without defending itself. Yet, in this tragic cycle, Israel’s very acts of defense are turned against it, leaving it in a constant position of international scrutiny and moral questioning.

The Question: How Does Israel Defeat This Culture?

The big question that looms over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is how a nation like Israel can defeat a culture that celebrates death. The answer, unfortunately, is neither simple nor straightforward. Military action alone cannot dismantle a cultural narrative carefully constructed over decades. Efforts to root out terrorist groups like Hamas are met with fierce resistance, not just because of political and military realities but because Hamas thrives on martyrdom as both a religious and tactical tool.

One possible approach lies in addressing the root causes that make martyrdom so appealing in Palestinian society. Economic despair, political disenfranchisement, and a lack of future prospects all contribute to a situation where young Palestinians see death as more valuable than life. For Israel and the international community, addressing these underlying issues could help to undermine the power of the martyrdom narrative. If Palestinian society can be offered viable alternatives—opportunities for prosperity, education, and self-determination that do not hinge on conflict—then perhaps the culture of death could begin to fade.

Moreover, the Palestinian leadership must be held accountable by both its people and the international community. As long as the Palestinian Authority and groups like Hamas continue to glorify martyrdom, reward it financially, and use it as a political tool, peace will remain elusive. The international community, particularly those in the West, must move beyond superficial narratives of victimhood and oppression to truly understand the internal dynamics driving the conflict. Only through a deeper engagement with the cultural forces at play can any meaningful progress be made.

In conclusion, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not just a battle over land, borders, and politics; it is also a battle over cultural values. Israel, a nation that values life and survival, is pitted against an ideology that glorifies death. Until this fundamental cultural divide is bridged, no amount of military action, ceasefire agreements, or peace negotiations will be able to bring about a lasting resolution. For Israel to defeat this culture, it will require not only military strength but also a concerted effort to dismantle the ideology of martyrdom that holds Palestinian society in its grip. Only when the celebration of life is restored on both sides can peace have a chance to flourish.