Spaces of survival and resistance: psychogeographies in the ongoing genocide of Gaza

This work contributes to critical discussions on space and power in conflict settings, and the role of place in both oppression and resistance. Through an exploration of the spatial and psycho-political dimensions of spaces and places via psychogeography, this research challenges conventional geographic representations, offering a critical framework for understanding how individuals experience, interpret, and navigate their environments in times of extreme adversity. Conducted in Gaza amid the ongoing genocide, this study engaged 24 participants who used a mobile tracking application to document their movements, capture significant locations through photos, videos, voice notes, and produce narratives. This process enabled them to reflect on their personal stories of suffering and resistance. All written materials were recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and analysed with thematic content analysis to identify key patterns and themes. The findings highlight the dual role of place as both a site of trauma and a refuge for survival and resistance, emphasizing how individuals reclaim agency through spatial practices and deep connections to the spaces they inhabit. Psycho-cartographies provided participants with a means to visualize the impact of war on their personal geographies, revealing how destruction, bereavement, and resilience manifest in context