The Triumph of the Spirit and the Return to Life (2)
Wars do not leave behind destruction alone; they also reshape the way people experience safety, belonging, and life itself.
Yet many continue to resist this fracture by holding on to community, songs, work, art, and even the simple hope of tomorrow.
These testimonies speak of people who found, in closeness to others and in human action, a way to confront fear and keep moving forward despite everything.
Testimony Three: Nizar
Nizar speaks about an initial feeling of fear and anxiety that overwhelmed him, but gradually faded through social closeness and people standing beside one another during that hardship.
Traditional chants, folk singing, and songs also played a role in strengthening the sense of unity and belonging to the land.
He says that little by little, he overcame his fear after hearing the voices of people and defenders calling out and supporting one another, allowing him and his friends to regain a sense of safety.
Testimony Four: Hanan Al-Halabi
Hanan Al-Halabi, who had been living in the United Arab Emirates, returned to Suwayda one day before the July massacres and lived through that period with all its hardship and pain.
Her testimony is rooted in the idea that pain, when it becomes collective, does not divide people but brings them together.
She believes that true strength lies in people’s hearts when they decide not to abandon one another.
Fifteen days after the war began, she decided not to remain a spectator and initiated a joint project with the Syndicate of Fine Artists under the title:
“Wounded Suwayda Under Siege and Fire”
The initiative became a remarkable and unprecedented event within an exhibition space for visual artists, reflecting artistic and human engagement with the tragedy.
She also launched her own project despite advice from those around her not to take such a risk amid instability.
Hanan explains that she holds the UAE Golden Residency and received messages allowing her to leave during the war. However, she chose to remain in Suwayda beside her family and not leave them during that difficult time.
She concludes with hope and optimism, affirming that what lies ahead will be far better.
