the diaries of palestine.

20 Years

Welcome to Gaza.
A small city at the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea,

Gaza is what yofrom scribe as small but effective.
The only Palestinian city that Israel couldn't control.
So small yet Israel’s biggest nightmare.

The nearest ally country to Gaza is Egypt.
Egyptian people have provided all kinds of services to the Palestinians throughout the years.
They had always considered the Palestinians as their brothers and took it upon themselves to help them with everything they have.

And my story starts here.
My mother is Egyptian and my father is Palestinian.
My Dad used to study Islamic studies at Al_Azhar University in Egypt.

While he was there, he met my mom and they got married, my mom traveled with him to Gaza to live there with his family.
Our life in Gaza wasn't the most luxurious, but we were glad that we could stay in our land especially that Israel had no control over us, though Israel always had its way of ruining our lives and shaking away the happy details it has.

My mom got sick, the health care in Gaza wasn't enough to treat her, so she went to Egypt to get her treatment.

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing war and battles between Gaza forces and Israel mom's treatment journey lasted for 20 years.
Her health got better, but she was never able to come back home, the borders between Gaza and every single Arab country were closed until only God knows when.

We tried to reach her, my dad tried so many times but it was to no use, my younger siblings grew up without their mother, my older sister got married without her mother by her side.

I swore to them that I would bring her back, I tried and prayed to Allah, I begged him to help me and open the closed doors ahead of me, and to remove everything standing between me and my mother.

At last and after 14 attempts I finally managed to get a visa to Egypt to see my mother.

I couldn't believe it!
I thanked Allah and ran all the way home smiling like an idiot. when I told my family the news my sister cried, my younger brothers hugged me and they were so happy.

I didn't expect that reaction from them!
after all, only I will get to see her, and I couldn't get a visa for all of us, these past 14 attempts only resulted in one visa for only me.

Yet they haven't complherbyand wished me luck, they told me to deliver their greetings and kisses to mom.



Part 2

I'm finally here in Egypt!
just a few more steps and I'll finally see her.

As soon as I set my foot in the neighborhood where my mom lives, I heard her from a balcony shouting my name, she must have been waiting for me for hours!

" My son!! he is my son! I knew it!"
She said as she ran down the stairs and threw herself into my arms.

I hugged her tight and cried,
for 20 years I've been dreaming about this moment.

" My son I missed you my darling. I missed you and your brothers"
She said while crying.
20 years for this moment... and to bring her back home I would sacrifice another 20 even 50 years because seeing her face even for a few minutes makes even the worst occupation seems like a small fence.
No one and nothing can imprison our free spirits, we Palestinians have the wills of eagles, and the bravery of lions, as long as we keep fighting our cause won’t be erased.