A tale of two sieges: Palestine and Marawi

The ongoing genocide in Palestine and the 2017 Siege of Marawi in the Philippines, though distinct in context, share similarities in terms of the suffering and humanitarian crises they sparked. Analyzing the parallels and intersections between these two events sheds light on the devastating impacts of warfare and settler colonialism.

Urban Seige and a Genocide

Both the Gaza Strip in Palestine and Marawi City in the Philippines experienced intense urban battles for months. 

The Siege of Marawi, which lasted five months starting May 23, 2017, involved Philippine government forces fighting militants affiliated with ISIS, including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups. Though the months-long campaign in Marawi was triggered by the Philippine government’s failed attempt to arrest Isnilon Hapilon, a man most-wanted by both the Philippines and United States government, the effects of the siege lasted longer (953 days or more than 2 and half years) and extended across the entire Mindanao region because of the Duterte government’s declaration of Martial Law in the entire island.

Gaza is still enduring repeated sieges and military offensives by Israeli forces, often lasting weeks to months, resulting in widespread death, forced famine, and destruction. The death toll in Palestine has been reported to be over 54,000 (now 58,000) since the bombings continued a few weeks after the January 2025 ceasefire. The exact number of deaths in Palestine has been difficult to tally since the ongoing genocide has also affected Palestinians indirectly. Diseases, hunger, and other health risks have also reportedly increased during the onslaught.  

As of writing, the numbers are still growing especially with the recent development of a controversial Israel and US funded foundation that, on the surface, distributes humanitarian aid, but simultaneously targets more Palestinians by bombing them while they wait and line up for much needed aid.  

Different to the Marawi Siege, the genocide in Palestine has been going on since Zionists occupied parts of Palestine and settled in their lands. The most notable event in Palestinian history was the “Nakba” or “catastrophe” which was an ethnic cleansing of Palestinians back in 1948. During the Nakba, an estimated 15,000 were killed and 750,000 were forced out of their homes.

Massive Civilian Displacement and Casualties

A defining feature of both Marawi and Palestine is the massive displacement of civilians. During the Marawi siege, over 360,000 people were displaced from their homes, many seeking refuge in evacuation centers or with relatives. Similarly, Palestinians in Gaza have faced repeated displacement due to non-stop aerial bombardments, military ground operations and blockades for food and humanitarian missions.

Casualty figures in both conflicts reflect heavy tolls on civilians. In Marawi, official reports cite at least 47 civilian deaths, though human rights organizations suggest higher numbers due to air strikes and crossfire. In Palestine, particularly Gaza, civilian casualties have been far greater, with an estimated 58,000 killed, potentially reaching even more due to Israel’s relentless carpet bombing of residential areas, deliberate targeting of hospitals and aid convoys, and the U.S.-backed blockade that has turned food, water, and medicine into weapons of war.

Human Rights Violations and War Crimes

Human rights organizations have documented serious violations in both conflicts. Amnesty International reported that during the Battle of Marawi, all parties committed violations of international humanitarian law, some amounting to war crimes. These include indiscriminate shelling, use of heavy artillery in civilian areas, hostage-taking, and extrajudicial killings.

Similarly, the genocide in Palestine has been marked by evident  war crimes including disproportionate attacks on civilians including children, and targeting of civilian infrastructure.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant back on November 21, 2024, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict occurring from October 8, 2023, to at least May 20, 2024. Netanyahu has since been able to avoid arrest.

Psychological and Societal Impact

The trauma inflicted on civilians in both sieges is profound. In Marawi, displaced families faced overcrowded evacuation centers, limited access to basic services, and deaths due to disease and dehydration. The siege also destroyed cultural and religious landmarks, such as Saint Mary’s Cathedral, impacting community identity.

Palestinians in Gaza endure chronic trauma from the non-stop conflict, blockade-induced poverty, and destruction of their cities and cultural heritage. According to UNICEF, some of the most affected in the Palestine conflict are the children.

“Since the end of the ceasefire on 18 March, 1,309 children have reportedly been killed and 3,738 injured. In total, more than 50,000 children have reportedly been killed or injured since October 2023. How many more dead girls and boys will it take? What level of horror must be livestreamed before the international community fully steps up, uses its influence, and takes bold, decisive action to force the end of this ruthless killing of children?” asked Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa in a statement.

Both populations face long-term challenges in rebuilding their lives amid political uncertainty and ongoing security threats.

Military and Political Contexts

While the Siege of Marawi was part of a counterterrorism campaign against ISIS-affiliated groups within a sovereign state, the genocide in Palestine involves a protracted national liberation struggle with deep historical, territorial, and political dimensions. Both illustrate how US-sanctioned warfare against minorities labeled as ‘terrorists’ in populated areas leads to deadly humanitarian crises with a core mission of extracting resources and stealing land.

In zones of conflict, especially those involving marginalized groups, powerful state or corporate interests may seek to access valuable natural resources. Across the entire Mindanao island, mining concessions and agricultural plantations have been sources of tension, with indigenous and Moro communities often displaced or marginalized.

The Marawi Siege is a clear example where US military operations and political strategies facilitated weakening local resistance, displacing communities, and establishing control over resource-rich areas. During this conflict, US special forces provided technical support and military advice to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their campaign against the Maute group, a local ISIS-affiliated militant faction

In Palestine, control over water resources, fertile land, and natural gas reserves off the Gaza coast are critical issues. Israeli settlements and military zones often restrict Palestinian access to these resources.

Intersecting struggle of Palestine and Marawi

The Marawi Siege and the ongoing genocide in Palestine exemplify the devastating human cost inflicted when military power is wielded against civilian populations for political and strategic aims. At the heart of both crises lies the influence of the US war machine, whose global military doctrine, arms provision, and counterinsurgency strategies deeply shape these conflicts.

Both crises require a combination of direct humanitarian assistance, advocacy for political solutions, raising public awareness, and an end to imperialist rule to ensure sustained support and dignity for affected communities. Both the people of Palestine and Marawi are victims of the global system of the US war machine which perpetuates cycles of violence. 

The experiences of both Palestine and Marawi vividly demonstrate that resisting Zionism and US imperialism is not just important but indispensable for the liberation and survival of their peoples. The violence in both regions is rooted in externally imposed military and political dominance, embodied by the intertwined forces of US imperial interests and, in the case of Palestine, Zionist expansionism.

FROM PALESTINE TO THE PHILIPPINES, STOP THE U.S. WAR MACHINE!