Intersecting Struggles: Queer Decolonial Feminism and Comparative Settler Colonialism in the Context of Palestinian Liberation and Environmental Justice

This theoretical article explores the intersections of settler colonialism and environmental justice in Palestine through the lens of queer decolonial feminism (Elia, 2023; Lugones, 2010; Vergès, 2019) and comparative settler colonialism (Veracini, 2013), illuminating how these frameworks collectively critique the ongoing legacies of coloniality and racial capitalism. By examining the historical and contemporary implications of settler colonial practices in Palestine, the article highlights the profound inequalities experienced by Palestinians, particularly regarding access to land, water, and other essential resources. Through a queer decolonial feminist lens, it challenges normative narratives that often erase the gendered and sexualized dimensions of settler colonial violence, arguing for a more complex and nuanced understanding of resistance, which connects to global struggles of gendered, racialized, and sexualized others.

In addition to the main guiding frameworks, the theoretical exploration draws on the works of critical scholars across multiple disciplines, situating Palestine within a broader context of global struggles against racial capitalism (Bhattacharyya 2018; Kelley, 2023; Robinson 2000) and environmental degradation (Gilmore, 2022). By integrating insights from black studies, Indigenous studies, and abolitionist feminist theory, the article proposes that a nuanced critique of these intersecting oppressions is essential for envisioning alternative futures rooted in liberation and justice.

Furthermore, this research situates climate justice as a critical site of struggle, arguing that it is inseparable from the legacies of settler colonial violence, colonial exploitation, and modern colonial policies. Ultimately, this article aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding environmental justice, advocating for solidarity among diverse movements and a queering of global priorities in the face of escalating ecological and humanitarian crises. Through the case of Palestine, it underscores the need for transformative approaches that recognize and address the interconnectedness of social, environmental, and economic injustices in the quest for liberation and sustainability.