Hate Thy Neighbor (A Palestinian's fight against the world)

6 I am older than your illegal state

My life in Palestine occupied Gaza territory was a living nightmare. From the day I was born, until I was living there, everyday the Israel forces had humiliated me, insulted me, abused me and most of all try to destroy my spirit. And I am not the only one who had this problem but every man, woman and child face this brutality.

Our schools were bombed. So we didn't have a roof over our head, chairs, tables and what not students everywhere in the world have. For us, a day to go to school uninterrupted was a luxury. And if we could have the same teacher for over one year, that is a luxury as the terrorist state of Israel believe intellectuals are a problem to it's illegal existence, most of the teachers were arrested on fails grounds.

Most of the days, we are closed off from entering our area by this big fence they have built. My parents sometimes beg these animals to let us in as we were not more than 10 years by then. But no, all the women who were waiting for their children will be humiliated and we children wait until night with no water and food for the army to open doors.

We had cattle, as anything we can grow or have is all what we had. Water that is given to us by the illegal state of Israel is poisoned. Drinking those water has made more than half the population in Gaza terribly sick. But sick didn't have right for medicine. We don't have hospitals. If we build hospitals, on fails pretense, they bomb it as well. So apart from the man slaughtering Israel government and army carry out, the next is death from causes that could be prevented but because we were from Gaza, we were denied. Not only the Palestinian people faced this brutality, but every living thing including trees and animals are subjected to this abuse. And that is how all our cattle were killed right in front of my eyes, shot by the so called "dogs" from the Israel army. Our olive trees are cut down, are crops are poisoned and are animals are killed. Yet, no one speaks. No one sees. No one hears.

It is not easy to travel from Gaza to anywhere including the neighborhoods. This is a crime which can result in getting shot. Playing football, swimming in the sea are also crime which can get one killed in Gaza. So, we Palestinians get killed for simply being Palestinians. Yet, no one speaks. No one sees. No one hears.

To say this is all as we Palestinians go through is insulting to every Palestinian. No, we go through much more abuse - mental and physical. But nothing is more devastating to our spirit that stealing our lands and homes under our nose. And that is when I met Brad for the first time.

I was 20, unemployed. Due to lack of facility, I couldn't continue my studies. I was very good at computers even then though the only computer I ever had was 2km away from home. I use to draw the computer in school to see how it looked like as most of us have never seen one. Bilal who is a cousin of mine had a computer, as he was working for an NGO which provide meals for refugees, that is us. He was a programmer and he taught me everything he could. I was a quick learner. It is at this time I had an ambition to continue my studies.

Having no means to eat, let alone pay for universities, I was force to write to people asking for help. I knew even if universities except my request, I should be really lucky if I get a passport or these animals in the Israel army will let me go. A slightest notion that I may get away from Gaza is enough to get killed. Or they can refuse my exit. Either way, I will be screwed.

The good thing about us, the Palestinians is, we are unbreakable. The illegal state of Israel can have nuclear arms, but nothing, absolutely nothing could crush us. A reason why they hate us so much. We are fighting for what is ours, what is forcibly taken from us and what should belong to us. We are not intruding anyone's land, we are not grabbing anyone's home, we are not even asking for charity. We want what is rightfully ours and what has been forcibly taken from us. With that we believe we will have freedom which no Palestinian man, woman or child knows for the last 70 years. I certainly didn't know what it felt to be free.