Mayla Bakhach/ Lebanon, Development Consultant.

12 October 2026

Youssef?

He is that solid calm young man who keenly listens to others.

That young man who looks at the world with a gaze heavy with thought, contemplation, and compassion.

He is the young man who does not lose himself in work, is not distracted by leisure, and is not consumed by grudges.

Instead, he views himself with a sense of content and respect.

If Youssef were to return to our world today, what would he say? What would he do?

We are now in mid-2026, living through an escalating war process destroying the entire Arab Levant: Relentless and restless Israeli aggressions, from the war of extermination in Gaza to the systematic destruction of southern Lebanon, the occupation and destabilization of society in Syria, the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and, last but not least, the aggression against Iran.

All this is happening in a world where the responsibility of speaking out and defending human rights and justice has been left solely to the victims after most countries ignored the calls to uphold them.

If Youssef were here today, he would stand there smiling, that smile which, in an instant, transforms into a thoughtful gaze. He would place his hands in his pockets, look at the people around him, and then speak words that soothe thoughts and inspire hope, a hope devoid of illusion, grounded in small actions capable of accumulation.

If he were among us, he would spark discussions and conversations, seeking to create space for every individual to express themselves, their aspirations, and their fears, without imposing judgments or directives. He would express his steadfast stance:

Palestine in his mind,

Damascus in his heart,

and Lebanon in his thoughts.

He would sing a song, whether traditional folk or “tarab”, a song that unites emotions and deepens the bond among listeners.

However, Youssef would remain solitary, wandering between his thoughts, England where his wife lives, and Fyti, his Cyprus village.

He would remain solitary, anxious behind his smile as injustice is escalating and aggression is growing savagely.

He would remain solitary, anxious and calm at the same time, fully aware of the human condition amidst the storm. He would seek to navigate it with objectivity and vigilance, never losing sight of the inevitable day when the storm would recede and humanity would rise anew.

Today, as in the past, Youssef remains a human being liberated from artificial constraints and hollow illusions, tirelessly pursuing a simple beautiful life, and always smiling.