‘I wish to live in peace’

Alaa, 21: “Like anyone in this world, I hope to get up in the morning and enjoy the sun shining without the fear of bombing here or destruction there. But I did not sleep last night because of the explosions in Gaza every single minute. In the morning I started to feel sleepy and very soon fell asleep for awhile. Suddenly, the sound of airstrikes made me wake up again.

“That moment my father told me that we needed some bread and water. Despite the bad situation, I went to the nearest market to get what we needed. The situation was good enough, but then suddenly while I was walking there was a missile from an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft. Many people went to see what happened and then my mobile rang. It was my father asking me, ‘Are you okay? Are you still alive??’ I told him, ‘Don’t worry, I am fine.’

“My family and I spend the whole day listening to the radio. There is no TV because as usual the electricity is cut off. Furthermore, we call our relatives and friends in other areas to see if they safe or not, and our friends call us to know if we are still alive or not.

“Warfare usually occurs infrequently between nations. But in Palestine the situation is different, the struggle becomes a part of the Palestinian daily life. On the personal level, this situation makes me frustrated and confused.

I spend my day calling my friends, helping my neighbors and listening to the sound of the bombs and warplanes. Everyone is frustrated, exhausted, easily annoyed and worried about the future. My mind does not stop racing and my heart does not stop pounding. I am always thinking and ask myself: Will we live a stable life? Can we have a better future? What about the next generations? And the most puzzling question is: Will we suffer forever?

”I wonder if I will live to the next moment. I hope to achieve my dreams and that there is an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people. We have a hope to live like other nations. I wish to live in peace.”