In the cradle of Tunisia's revolution, anger gave way to apathy. Then Gaza happened

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In Tunisia, years of political silence and apathy have been broken by renewed attention and outrage over Israel's war on Gaza, which has reawakened public discourse amidst ongoing economic hardship and authoritarian governance. Residents express frustration with both domestic leadership and Muslim leaders for perceived inaction.

In the cradle of Tunisia's revolution, anger gave way to apathy. Then Gaza happened Faisal Edroos on Sat, 07/25/2026 - 11:10 Israel's genocidal war on Gaza has broken years of political silence, with Tunisians accusing their government of doing little to end the bloodshed Tunisians rally in the capital Tunis on 21 October 2023 in solidarity with besieged Palestinians being killed in Gaza (Fethi Belaid/AFP) Off Fifteen years ago, this was a city that changed the Arab world. It was here that street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after local officials harassed him, humiliated him, and confiscated his fruit cart - igniting an uprising that toppled Tunisia's longtime ruler, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and inspired revolts across the Middle East and North Africa. Today, the market hums with familiar rhythms. Traders haggle over prices. Customers inspect fruit they increasingly struggle to afford. Life appears ordinary. Yet beneath the routine, residents say something has shifted. Not because Tunisia's economic crisis has eased. Nor because confidence in politics has returned. Instead, many point to an event more than 2,000km away: Israel's war on Gaza. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); For many in Sidi Bouzid, solidarity with Palestinians has become inseparable from their own frustrations over deepening poverty and a political system they say has left them feeling powerless. The war has also done something few analysts expected. After years in which public political discussions all but disappeared due to apathy and President Kais Saied's increasingly authoritarian rule, many residents say Israel's genocidal campaign has given them a reason to speak openly again. "Our leaders betrayed us," Wajdi, a fruit seller, told Middle East Eye. "What have the Muslim leaders done for Palestine? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "We're told every day that Tunisia stands with Palestine, but what has our government actually done?" 'All we wanted was to bury him': How a Gaza family struggled to recover their dead son Read More » "All the president does is talk. He had opportunities to take practical steps, to push internationally, to pressure other governments, but instead we've seen nothing. We're tired of his empty words." For Wajdi, and several other Tunisians MEE spoke with, Gaza has become a powerful political flashpoint, deeply intersecting with domestic issues. It's become a measure of the gap between official rhetoric and political action, reopening conversations that had largely fallen silent since July 2021 when Saied suspended parliament, sacked the prime minister and granted himself prosecutorial powers, invoking a national emergency in a move rights groups and political opponents called a coup. At first, many in Sidi Bouzid welcomed Saied's power grab, hoping a strong presidency would break years of political paralysis.  But as the economic hardship deepened, many Tunisians lost faith that politics could improve their lives.  Election turnout plummeted, public debate faded and conversations increasingly centred on making ends meet. Fifteen years after sparking the revolution, Sidi Bouzid remains among one of Tunisia's poorest governorates.  Investment has failed to materialise, unemployment remains stubbornly high and many young people see emigration, rather than reform, as their only path forward. With inflation turning everyday shopping into careful arithmetic, traders say customers who once bought fruit and vegetables in bulk now only purchase enough for a few days. "Everyone has become poorer," Wajdi said, watching shoppers move between the stalls. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Gaza shifts attention to home When Israel launched its genocidal war on Gaza, demonstrations spread rapidly across Tunisia.  Tens of thousands took to the streets in Tunis and other cities, while Sidi Bouzid once again saw residents gathering in public around a political cause. Palestinian flags appeared en masse and marches drew in crowds who had not joined demonstrations for years. Residents said the demonstrations became one of the few spaces where people once again felt able to express political opinions publicly after years of silence. But as the death toll in Gaza mounted, many began asking why Tunisia's support appeared to stop at speeches. 'The regime displays hyper-sensitivity towards any street mobilisation, even when protesters raise officially endorsed slogans like supporting Palestine' - Khalil Lahbibi, Tunisian activist While Saied repeatedly condemned Israel, residents said they saw little effort to translate that rhetoric into meaningful diplomatic action or regional leadership. "I don't think Tunisia has done anything meaningful," Oumaima, a 26-year-old housewife, told MEE. "We haven't seen serious diplomatic efforts or attempts to build an internationa