I AM A BLACK AFRICAN PALESTINIAN

I AM A BLACK AFRICAN PALESTINIAN

We, as Palestinians have indeed been through immense struggles and hardships, and it is essential to acknowledge our rights and humanity. I understand geopolitics, but I can tell you that advocating for social justice, equality, and human rights is essential for creating a more peaceful and equitable world.

          We have endured immense suffering and hardships where we have been displaced and made refugees in our motherland.  Many of us were forced to flee our homes during the creation of Israel Zionist apartheid state in 1948 and again in 1967. Today, there are millions of us who are refugees worldwide, many living in camps without basic human rights like healthcare, education, and sanitation.

The Zionist and apartheid Israeli military has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1967, imposing strict controls on our movement, trade, and daily life. This has led to widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary arrests, detention, and violence.

The Zionist and settlers have expanded and stole our land to continue their quest for a Zionist state. They have built and expanded the illegal settlements on our land, leading to the displacement of our families and the destruction of homes, crops, and livelihoods. The illegal settlers and the Zionists have placed the Gaza Strip illegal and apartheid sanctions since 2007. They have prevented the legal flow of goods, services, and people. This has led to widespread poverty, unemployment, and humanitarian catastrophe.

We have faced repeated bouts of violence, including military assaults, airstrikes, and settler attacks. Many of us have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, or been left homeless. We have faced significant restrictions on our freedom of association, religion, and movement through illegal and inhumane checkpoints, walls, and fences. This limits our access to essential services like healthcare, education, and employment.

The Israeli occupation has also led to environmental degradation, including the destruction of natural habitats and the pollution of water sources. We have been illegally detained in Israeli prisons, often without charge or trial. Many of us faced torture, mistreatment, and denial of basic rights. We have been experienced immense trauma and suffering for our families, who are often separated from loved ones due to detention, displacement, or restrictions on movement. The Zionists have tries necessary to erase our identity, culture, and history. This includes the destruction of our cultural heritage sites.