Palestine

Question 1

Hi Diego! I am so sorry for the delayed response! I have been overwhelmed with a lot in school and I have been dealing with a few personal issues. I hope these answers to your questions help your story:

PART I: Describe Palestine

The way I would describe Palestine is a land of clear and crisp air, thriving with blooming vegetation, like tall sage grasses and chamomile that give off a soft scent. My parents always recall stories from the past, of how they would tend to their flourishing backyard-gardens, filled with herbs like za'atar and mint leaves, and vines crawling along the squash and tomato plants from neighboring grape trees. The soil of Palestine is quite wholesome; the land is brimming with foliage from the famous olive trees, which are Palestinian's main source of agricultural production. The rich olive oil of my homeland is unlike any other I have seen-- a deep green color with a smooth consistency, that gives a slight burning sensation in the throat. Olive oil is found throughout Palestinian cuisine due to its health benefits and abundance in the land. 

Apart from the natural traits of my homeland, the cities within Palestine are immersed with markets, street vendors, and children at play with the reluctant cats of the neighborhood. 
 The street markets of Palestinian cities supply a myriad of spices, herbs, and nuts-- sumac, za'atar, jameed, pumpkin seeds, cardamom... the list goes on. The spices of Palestine are incredibly distinctive and flavorful, in fact, many Palestinians away from home ask friends and family to send some overseas. Some of my Palestinian friends (who also live in America) have requested for my father, who recently visited his family in the city of RamAllah, to bring these special spices back home. 
 Retailers in the market sell traditional Palestinian clothing, including the Thobe-- a thick and velvet-textured dress with long sleeves, stitched with handmade geometric patters-- that Palestinain girls wear in celebration of an engagement, at wedding ceremonies, and other special occasions. Kuffiyehs, the symbol of Palestinian resistance and strength towards oppression, are also a common piece found among the outdoor markets. The Qumbaz, (traditionally used by Palestinian farmers) consisting of a long wrap-shirt, a belt, and wide pants, are among the showpieces of sellers at the markets. 
The friendly street vendors compete with each other to offer the tallest skewers stacked with the freshest shawarma meat, and falafel sandwiches topped with tangy Arabic pickles, fattoush salads, garlic sauce, fried pita, and hummus. Warm, sweet yams topped with cinnamon in the winters, and cold, cut pieces of watermelon in the summers-- the vendors of Palestine are always providing their customers with the most satisfying foods of the season. Laughter can always be heard coming from homes on the day of Eid, as neighbors and families gather in living rooms with trays spread with Golan Apples, larger than a man's palms, and the tangy Gazan oranges and lemons; the nuts, Mamoul cookies, tea, and Arabian coffee are snacked on  and gifted as a way of saying "goodbye" until the next get-together.
 As a kid, my dad used to care for his family's goats, sheep, and chickens. He nostalgically recaptures moments as a child tending to his family's livestock, like when he once milked a goat until it filled an entire two-liter bottle. While growing up, my parents would sing my siblings and I songs they learned from their kindergarten teachers and parents in Arabic, including "Badh oo Batata" or "Eggs and Potatoes", which is a song meant to make young kids laugh on their birthdays. 
 In his early twenties, my father attended the prestigious Birzeit University, where he majored in economy. He recollects the highly involved student population; most of the students at Birzeit were a part of the Student Union. My father, along with his classmates, were incredibly bright and hard-working individuals that fought for the rights of the Palestinians of their time, and for future generations. 
  The sound of drums and synchronized chanting would echo through the streets of Palestine in the evenings, when traditional wedding ceremonies took place. As a part of the Palestinian tradition, the groom would ride on a horse, surrounded by his parents and family, friends, and invitees, to the bride's home. The bride's father would take his daughter's hand, walk her out of her home to embrace her groom, where the couple would travel to their banquet hall together. The women of the families would distribute candy-coated almonds and other party-favors to the children and guests. After reaching the banquet hall, the groom and bride would cut their wedding cake with an Arabian-sword and feed each other simultaneously. Of course, the Dabke would take place among the men's circle-- the leader of the circle would swing a cane around in a series of complex moves and jumps.
 Five times a day, children are seen holding the hands of their parents in the streets of Gaza, as the Adhaan, or, the call to prayer for Muslims, can be heard from the minarets of the neighborhood mosques. Many Palestinian Christians are also among the civilians, peacefully walking through the streets with their holy books held in one arm and greeting acquaintances and neighbors.
  Palestine, overall, is a land of harmonious brother and sister-hood and people with outstanding character. I personally believe that my homeland is the place that it is, because of the high moral expectations that my people have set for themselves. Palestinians are genuine, hard-working, and generous people, that hold high-regard for others, as much as themselves. Regardless of the religion we practice, many of the Palestinian traditions and mannerisms are the same, and our actions reflect our rejection of arrogant behavior towards anyone. 

PART II: Updates Regarding my Family

  [Since our last interview], Despite being cut off from contact from my family in Gaza for two consecutive weeks, my dad and his uncle (who lives here in California) have recently discovered that they are still alive, but some injured. Some of my relatives are currently sheltering in Khan Younis, while others are in Rafah-- both cities have no resources to offer, and lack the jubilant environment that Gaza used to be. In order to contact the outside world, my relatives have to walk two to three miles, yet even then, service may still be unavailable. 
One of my uncles, an anesthesiologist, recently traveled back to the strip to volunteer at the Gaza European Hospital for two weeks. As he expected, traveling into Gaza proved difficult; he spent six hours at a checkpoint in Cairo but had to turn back after he could not enter, and had to spend the rest of his night in Egypt. Entering Gaza is a delicate and difficult endeavor-- several checkpoints are established and coordinated between the Egyptians, Israelis, and Palestinians, all of whom must agree to allow you into the strip. Any form of miscommunication can cost an entire day of waiting.
 Within the hospital itself, my uncle describes the conditions he had to face as a physician, as well as the conditions of his patients. The outdoor grounds of the hospital are filled with tents, sheltering families and regular Gazans. Within the hospital walls, mattresses are found on the floors, and more people living with relatives; in fact, my uncle even described an entire family living on the landing of a stairwell in the hospital. He went on to explain the dire environment of the operating room-- a lack of cleaning supplies and water has caused unhygienic circumstances that medical teams are forced to work with. In addition, the equipment is outdated, and there were some medications that my uncle describes that he was surprised to even have access to, as many other critical medications were not available. At some point, the hospital exhausted their supply of sterile drapes to cover their patients with during surgeries, so they resolved to using gowns (meant for surgeons) as an alternative. Even more so, surgical gowns were no longer available either, leaving my uncle and his colleagues with no choice but to perform procedures without any form of barrier of protection from contaminated surfaces-- flies would land on incisions in the middle of procedures, leaving patients prone to infections. 
I asked my uncle to explain the conditions outside of the hospital, and he illustrated a familiar scenario-- children holding empty jugs in search of water. He stated that water is not guaranteed to anyone, including the healthcare teams. The taunting humming sound of a drone is always heard above the heads of Gazans, without a single sign of waning away. My uncle explained the "bombing, tank shells, and explosions....are intermittent but definitely more [common] at night than during the day. "
 When describing the patients, my uncle mentions the seismic attacks against Gazans-- particularly children. He saw pregnant women and children with explosive injuries from bombing, shrapnel, and from buildings falling, with many of them unable to survive the impact. During the entirety of his two week mission, he only had one or two young male patients that were of combat-age. "The vast majority of the patients are children..." he went on to say  "...[it] was a common theme. There were so many children with gunshots straight to their head, and that doesn't happen by accident." One patient that my uncle told me about had me tearing up-- a young child that had a craniotomy procedure performed on him before my uncle arrived in Gaza, and he was in a coma. He received other procedures to support him, but one thing in particular struck my uncle-- "...he is unidentified..." He continued "...it just got me thinking about how many of these kids are unidentified..." Leaving the Gaza strip was difficult for my uncle, knowing that these innocent civilians were undeserving of the intolerable conditions they were forced into.

GENEROUS

Something that I have only recently considered is the safety, particularly for my uncles and male cousins in the war-zone. I am becoming increasingly aware of the arrests of Gazan men that are taking place by the Israeli army and the abuse that takes place while in their custody.
Another concern that I have for my family and the other Gazans is the potential for being targeted by the bombs, the bullets, the shrapnel, and the other weapons that destroy, not only one’s physical and mental well-being, but the dreams and aspirations of many Gazans.hen hi

PART III: Life as a student at Fresno State

 As a student at Fresno State, I have become increasingly motivated to perform better academically, and more importantly, morally. My Gazan brothers and sisters have demonstrated exceptional character despite the horrors they have faced for over 140 formidable days. As my uncle who volunteered at the Gaza European Hospital mentions, the Gazan people "....are quality people." Gazans are among the most generous he has ever encountered; the displaced civilians were willing to give any food that they had to others, knowing that there was no guarantee that they would eat at all. They have inspired me to express my gratitude towards God for the family and the resources that He has placed in my life, including my access to higher education. I am striving for higher scores and quality work with the intention to help my brothers and sisters in Gaza. Since the start of the war, I have begin to embrace the Palestinian within me more than ever. I have become increasingly aware of my roots, to the extent that I would ADD SOMETHING IN . In all honesty, I dissociate myself from the American name, because I do not wish to have any relation to frauds as leaders and and I have in my lifethaalways a

I dissociate myself from the American name, a

PART 4: DISCUSSION REGARDING THE RESPONSE OF OUR FEDERAL LEADERS …TO BE HONEST, I DON’T REALLY KEEP UP WITH LOCAL NEWS :( I ONLY TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOV. RESPONSE HERE.

 The discussion I had with my uncle was upsetting, but significant. He expressed his disappointment towards our leaders, and stated that "...not only are they abetting what's happening, but they are actually complicit in what's happening." And I agree. Growing up in American public schools embedded beliefs of equality and instilled a notion that I was nurtured by a "democracy". I, for one, can confidently say that a true, sovereign government should not become subjected to puppeteer schemes of other governments. Claiming that the number of innocent civilian deaths to be appalling, yet suspending the funding for UNRWA and sending billions of dollars to the Israeli government, despite the dire needs of Palestinians, is quite counterintuitive and hypocritical. The American and Israeli governments are openly inciting violence against the Gazan women, infants, children, innocent men, the disabled, and the elderly. As a Palestinian-American, and even as a regular human being, I can see right through the masks that our complicit government officials wear in front of the world. I don't believe in making empty statements to call for change-- I believe in action. And not counterintuitive action, rather, I believe in the execution of a purposeful response that is proposed with decency. Simply put, the Israeli leaders, the Western leaders, and all of the accomplices involved in this grande scheme are a disgrace to humankind.  Shame on those that make empty claims. Shame on those that have normalized and encouraged disparity among our human brothers and sisters. Shame on those that do not reflect. Shame.

of DIGNITY OF PALESTINAINS BEING CLEAN YOOO.

Answer 1

Awesome job so far :)

Student-run conventionsCONVENTIONS (POEM, BOOK, SPORTS CONVENTIONS) STUDENTS EXCHANGE–> PALESTINIAN STUDENTS WILL COME TO AMERICA TO STUDY
1992 BABA WENT TO AUSTRIA SIGNED A PROTOCOL WITH THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH TO GET YOUTH TO TAKE THEM TO AUSTRIA TO TEACH THEM HOW TO LEAD YOUTH CLUBS AND ANY ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE YOUTH. SIGNED PROTOCOLS FOR A FEW MILLIONS DOLLARS

OLD LADIES HOLD CIDIR OF HENNA,

aNY SECOND CAN BE KILLED IMMEDIATELY, BOMBS AND BULLETS, NOT BECAUSE OF ILLNESS OR CAR ACCIDENT OR OLD AGE. SETTLERS ARE KILLING THE PALESTINIANS 670 CHECKPOINTS IN WESTBANK. eNTRERANCE OF TOWNS THEY PLACE A METAL GATE AND THEY LOCK AND OPEN WHENEVER THEY WANT

HUNGER NO MEDICATION, DESTROYED ALL HOSPITALS. APPROXIMATELY 32 DESTROYED AND OUT OF SERVICE ENTIRELY. ARRESTED AND TORTURE THE MEDICAL TEAMS, KILLED THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY KILLED ANIMALS 9THE DONKEY BEING SHOT)
MAN CARRYING DEAD BOTHER, BUT DEAD BROTHER WAS SHOT AT

HEARD FROM COUSIN IN MOVED TO RAMALLAH TO IMROVE LIFE, HIS WIFE AND KIDS IN RAFAH

OTHER COUSINS AND AUNTS IN KHAN YOUNIS. AUNT HAS SIX KIDS FOUR BOYS TWO GIRLS, COUSINS–>MANY HAVE FOUR FIVE SIX KIDS, ALL OF THEIR HOMES ARE DESTROYED.

TRIED TO TAKE HER TO GET MEDICAL TREATMENT IN AMERICA–>BABAS COUSINS DAUGHTER
BOMBING IN KHAN YOUNIS (MORE DANGEROUS THAN RAFAH)
DAD’S AUNT AND DAD’S COUSIN’S MY GREAT GREAT AUNT AND GREAT COUSIN

THEY HAVE TO WALK 2 MILES AND SOMETIMES THREE MILES IF IT IS STILL AVAILABLE TO GET SERVICE FOR COMMUNICATIONS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE LEADERS RESPONSE?

ANGRY, BAD AND THAT THEY ARE PARTNERS AGAINST US. JUST TALK, THEY AREN’T DOING ANYTHING FOR CHILDREN. WHERE ARE THE WOMEN RIGHTS? THEY ARE CLAIMNING TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVENERMNETS, BUT THEYRE JUST TALKING. DAD STILL FEELS THE ARABIAN COUNTRIES ARE STILL DICTATORS BECUASE THEY ARE PUNISHING PEOPLE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN. AND THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HARIMG ANYONE. THEY THROW THE ANTI-SEMITISCM WORD AROUND
DONT FEEL LIKE HUMANS

EXTRA:

PLANT WHEAT, WHEAT HARVESTED WHEN GREEN, DRY IT AND GROUND IT TO MAKE FLOUR. sTEMS OF WHEAT USED FOR FRAMES, SOAKED WITH COLOR WATER, AND MAKE BASKETS AND HARVESTED.

tOMATO, EGGPLANTS, WATERMELON, CUCUMBER, CAULIFLOWER, SQUASH, DIWALI IN FEB, AND GROWS AFTER THREE YEARS, FAVA BEANS, SWEET BEANS, ONION, GARLIC,

OLIVES ARE BLESSED, EVERYTHING USED FROM OLIVE TREES. STEM OF OLIVE TREES USED FOR SHAPES AND FRAMES,
OLIVE IS SQUEEZED AND BECOMES OIL –> PLACED IN A BARREL, THE SHELL GOES TO THE BOTTOM, SEEDS ARE BROKEN, USED FOR PRAYER BEADS, OR OVENS
OIL USED TO MAKE SOAP
HARVEST THE OLIVES TO BE PICKLED ALSO
SOME OLIVES ARE LEFT IN THE TREE TO TURN BLACK AND BE PICKLED IN A DIFFERENT WAY. PUT IN WATER, PUT IN WATER, PLACED IN SUN, UNITL NO MORE WATER LEFT. PLACED IN OLIVE OIL AND SHATTA IS PUT ON IT

BEOFRE THE PHONES, THE 13 YEAR OLD WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE HOME. IF PEOPLE WANT TO COME OVER, THEY WOULD COME AFTER DINNER (6PM AND 7PM) AND GET A GIFT (DINNER PLATES, COFFEE CUPS). KIDS WOULD BE SENT A DAY BEFORE TO THE PEOPLES HOUSE TO LET THEM KNOW THEY ARE VISITING. JUICE, NUTS, COFFEE, TEA, AND STUFF TO GIVE TO THE PEOPLE. OLD PEOPLE WOULD GO FOR A WALK TO DIGEST THE FOOD.

Muslims believe Palestine to be a land blessed by God, in fact, the

Olive oil: dark Green, burning taste to it after being squeezed (in the throat), smells like olives

harmonious relationships and outstanding character.
Mention cats
mention firendly and RESPECTFUL PEOPLE with outstanding character
Mention how the people are extremely generous
MENTION SPICES –> SUMAC YOO

Living under the humming sounds of drones

Question 2

1. Where in Palestine did you go to?
2. Which hospital did you volunteer in?
3. Was it difficult to travel to the hospital? Was it difficult to leave?
4. What were your responsibilities in the hospital?
5. What were the conditions INSIDE OF THE HOSPITAL? Lack of medical tools
6. What were the conditions outside of the hospital
7. A lot of medical workers are being threatened with arrest and torture, did you feel threatened or in danger at any point?
8. Who were your patients? What injuries did they suffer from?
9. If there was one patient that you remember, who was it and why?
10. What is your number one concern for the people of Gaza right now?

Everything, spread of disease, amputations, people being blinded, it was hard to leave. WHy do i gget to leave, and they dont.

11. Since what you have seen in the hospitals of Gaza, how do you feel about the response of our leaders (or lack thereof) regarding the genocide going on? How have you been handling day-to-day life since you’ve come back and saw what you saw?

Consistently disappoint, they are abbetting and they are complicit in what is happening. Bombs and bullets are raining upon the children are american made.

12. Is there anything that you want to add or tell me for me to include in the story?

-Despite how little they had, the Gazans were generous. They gave them whatever they had to eat, SO kind and generous. Some of the best poeple hes ever met, they are quality people.

Answer 2

1. In Gaza European Hospital in Southern Gaza, close to Rafah, but its actually Khan Younis
2. Arrived in Cairo first, six hours from cairo to spent a whole day at teh checkpoint, werent able to get in, so had to go back to cairo, stayed in hotel. Going through several checkpoints.

Leaving was similar, on teh Palestinain side (whole day in the hospital) same checkpoint.

Coordinated by isrealis and egypitian palestinains, they all have to agree

3. Anesthesiologist, stayed in operating room. We would occasioanally wake up to bombs, majority of time spent in operating room
4. Hospital grounds filled with tents and kids, and adults. Once you walk into hospital, there are mattresses, whole families live on teh stairwell. Equipment is outdated, OR are filthy. SOme medications that he was surprised to have/ Ran out of sterile drapes, so started using surgeon gowns, so flies would land on incisions oin the middle of the surgery.
5. Despite the palestinians living in crowded tents, but palestinians are trying to stay clean to keep their dignity. They tried to keep it clean. You can hear the mechanical drumming sound of a drone 24/7, bombing, tank shells are intermittent are more common at night,
6. No, the hosiptial he worked at was not under siege. YET. There bombs target sox year olds, then no one is safe.
7. Vast majority of injured are children, injuries resulting from buildings falling, shrapenal,

13 days. One particular injury, was a gunshots to their head. that deosnt happen by accident. Young male patients one or two. 36 weeks pregnant women explosive injury ot her leg. Preganant lady with brain injury are

9. a child in ICU beofre he got there, and he had a brain injury craniomaty, and he was in a coma, took him to OR for a trach and a peg. He is unidentified. He may never find his family.
10. Number one concern: everything. the people that are starving, spread of disease, amputaitions, blinded. It was hard to leave for Khalo. They were just like us, and now they had to give up their life
11. Consistently disappointed in our leaders, and complicit. THe bombs, the missles are American made, this genocide cuold not iccur withuot our assistance. We have a lot of leaders who make these decisions without right or wrong.
12. Despite how little they had, they were generous. They ,ight have no food, but they gave what htye had. They are the best epople QUALITY PEOPLE.