Student Testimonies: The Genocide in Palestine
in collaboration with some MSA and Ardouna members.
In light of the ongoing and unjust killings of the Palestinian people, the purpose of this article is to ensure that Vanier College students who are both directly and indirectly affected by this crime against humanity can feel seen, reprsented, and supported. By reading the personal and anonymously contributed testimonies provided by some MSA club members and some Ardouna club members, I invite everyone to read their words with compassion and empathy.
“The Muslim Student Association is a student-led club aiming to provide Muslim students with the necessary resources and services to enhance their college experience while fostering their own spiritual growth. Committed to promoting unity and inclusivity, the MSA provides many services to all Vanier students, regardless of religion, organizing events such as bake sales, fundraisers, collective iftars, congregational Friday prayers, potlucks and inviting guest speakers. MSA events aid in bringing together students across campus to build a sense of community while supporting diverse student needs. The association actively represents the Muslim community on campus, advocating for Vanier Muslim Students when necessary, ensuring their voices are heard and supporting efforts to address and challenge discrimination”.
“Muslim Student Association (MSA) of Vanier College is one of the oldest clubs at Vanier College. It was created in the early 1990’s and was formerly known until 2007 as the Vanier Islamic Student Association (V.I.S.A)” (MSA, 2026).
“The current Co-Presidents are Mohamed Laoufi and Rania Bouladraf. They both served as Co-Presidents during the Fall 2025 semester, which gave them valuable experience in the role and allowed them to learn from the mistakes made during their first mandate and correct them in their second”.
Testimony #1: MSA club member
“What is unfolding in Palestine is a profound human tragedy marked by displacement, loss, and enduring hardship. Communities that have lived on this land for generations are facing violence, instability, and the erosion of their basic rights. Families are being torn apart, homes are being destroyed, and the daily rhythm of life has been replaced by fear and uncertainty. At its core, the situation reflects a long-standing decolonization struggle for dignity, safety, and the fundamental right to exist in peace. The current reality is rooted in decades of conflict, dispossession, and competing national aspirations. Following the establishment of the British mandate on Palestine, the Balfour declaration, and the creation of the ethnic cleansing of a significant portion of the historic land of Palestine of its native population, waves of displacement, wars, and political agreements, have shaped the landscape. Generations have grown up under occupation, restricted movement, and recurring cycles of violence. Witnessing the suffering in Gaza has been emotionally overwhelming. It creates a sense of helplessness, sorrow, and moral urgency that is difficult to put into words. Seeing children, families, and entire communities endure unimaginable hardship forces a deep reflection on justice, humanity, and our collective responsibility. It becomes impossible to remain indifferent; the images and stories stay with you, shaping your thoughts, your conversations, and your understanding of what compassion truly demands. It also deeply pushes you to act and help, encourages the organization of protests and fundraising to contribute to alleviating their pain. My hope for Palestine is a future defined not by conflict, but by healing. A future where families can rebuild their homes, where children can grow without fear, and where the land is returned to those it was stolen from with dignity and mutual recognition. I hope for a just peace, one that honors the humanity of every person involved and allows Palestinians to live freely, securely, and with the full rights they deserve. Above all, I hope that justice is served, with all who have acted against the wellbeing of the innocent experience proportional retribution, especially the elimination of religious fanaticism from internal politics.”
Testimony #2: MSA club member
“There is a project of complete extermination of Palestinians taking place today. This genocide is led by the Zionist entity which includes the military occupation forces known as the IDF or Tsahal, the Knesset government with its political parties, and the complicity of most Western governments with pressure from lobbies like AIPAC in the United States. Also, countries that signed the Abraham Accords such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrein, Sudan and Morocco and other Arab dictatorships like Egypt and Jordan have betrayed the Palestinian people in exchange of economic and political accords from President Donald Trump. This increased the suffering of the Palestinian people with the blockade of Gaza and the acceleration of the colonization in the West Bank led by Daniella Weiss, godmother of the illegal settlers. According to some human rights groups like B’Tselem, there are more constructions of concentration camps with sexual violence, humiliation, and severe beatings for the Palestinian hostages.”
“The last 3 years were marked by mass killing of civilians, of children, men and women, embargoes that led to famine as well as ethnic cleansing and forced deportation in the Gaza Strip. The number of the civilians that were killed ranges from 75,000 to 200,000 and possibly more.”
“The genocide in Gaza has taught us lessons. One of them is that no matter how much we complain, we will always have way more than an average child that happens to be born in Gaza. It taught us to be patient, as over the last 3 years, we watched fathers losing their homes that they worked for their whole lives to build, we watched babies not reaching the age of 1 month because of malnutrition, we watched children become orphans so soon. It taught us to have faith in God, as Palestinians still had faith in God after everything that they have suffered. It also taught us that, no matter how much Israel kills and bombs, it will never be confronted by anyone, it will only be held accountable by the people, never the ones in power. It will actually be supported and protected by the ones in power. We also have friends that lost contact with their family in Gaza and even some of them have become orphans now.”
“We really hope that one day, the millions of displaced Palestinian will go back to their land, carrying the keys of their homes that were passed down to them by their ancestors. We hope that the innocent child who had their parents killed by Israeli occupation will take revenge for his parents. We hope that one day, Muslims, Christians, and Jews will pray peacefully in their Holy Sites like in the previous centuries. Our peoples have more similarities than differences and they must share them together. And finally, we hope that one day the most beautiful place on Earth will see peace.”
Testimony #3: Ardouna club member
“My beautiful country has been suffering for generations. Since 1948, Palestinians have endured displacement, occupation, and repeated violence. Today, Gaza is facing devastation on an unimaginable scale entire neighborhoods have been erased, families have been torn apart, and cities like Rafah have been reduced to destruction. What hurts the most is watching this happen while so much of the world remains silent.”
“The roots of this suffering go back to 1948, when countless Palestinians were forced from their homes and land during the Nakba. Since then, generations have grown up under occupation, carrying the pain of loss, exile, and injustice while continuing to hold onto their identity and their right to exist.”
“It has affected me deeply, mentally and emotionally. Every day comes with fear for my family and friends who are there, not knowing what could happen to them next. The pain is even harder because I cannot visit my family, and I have already been separated from them for four years. Living with that helplessness, watching people you love suffer from afar, is something that stays with you every day.” —> Exec 1
Testimony #4: Ardouna club member
“It has affected me deeply because my family had to leave Palestine and seek refuge in Lebanon for safety. Even after moving, the fear did not disappear, because they are still close to a region affected by violence and bombings.”
“Seeing schools, workplaces, homes, and innocent civilians, including children, constantly affected by war makes the situation even harder to process emotionally. The thought that people who are simply trying to live their daily lives can suddenly become victims creates a constant feeling of fear and stress.”
“What affects me most is knowing that even after leaving their home, my family still does not feel completely safe. The possibility that violence could reach them at any moment is always in my mind. This constant fear plays a big role in my daily life because I am always checking the news, checking my phone, and making sure my family is okay. That feeling of always needing updates and never fully relaxing creates mental stress, because there is always the worry that one message or one call could bring bad news.”
“It is also difficult emotionally to hear people minimize what is happening or speak about it as if it is only politics, because for me it is personal. Behind every headline are families, children and people whose lives are being changed forever. When your own family is directly affected, it becomes impossible to separate the news from real life, and that adds another layer of sadness and frustration to everything I feel every day.” —> Exec 2
“Testimony #5: Ardouna club member
“It has affected me deeply because not knowing if I will ever get to visit my country is something that stays in the back of my mind. I grew up hearing the stories my family went through, the displacement, fear, and suffering they experienced just to survive. My family was displaced in 1948 and since then they have not truly been able to return home. Even the idea of going back to Palestine comes with the risk of being questioned, detained, or turned away. That reality is something many Palestinians live with having a homeland that they can’t freely go back to.”
“What makes it even harder is knowing that the place that holds so much history for my family is somewhere I can’t easily experience myself. I hear about the homes, streets, and memories that were left behind, but for me they mostly exist through stories. Seeing what is happening today only adds to that pain, because it reminds me that these struggles did not just stay in the past. For me it is not just something in the news it is part of my family’s history and something that continues to affect how I feel every day.” —> exec 3
“[Our] hope is simple: a free Palestine, a future where our people can live with dignity, safety, and peace on their own land, without fear, without loss, and without having to fight simply to exist”.
“The purpose of Vanier Ardouna club is to proudly represent and promote the beautiful Palestinian culture on campus. We want to share our traditions and allow others to discover the richness, history, and strength of our identity. Founded in November of 2023, our club is also a space where students can feel connected to their roots and where our culture can be celebrated with pride” (Vanier Ardouna, 2026).
