June 30, 2021
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By Bisma (Grade 8 Student from Earnscliffe Senior Public School)
A place where freedom is just a dream. For the people of Palestine, dreaming is the best they can do. Waking up every morning to the cries of children and bombings right outside of their windows.
Freedom. Freedom isn’t in their grasp. And there’s nothing they can do but pray for this nightmare to end. The ongoing conflict since 1948, is known as the Palestine-Israel conflict. Israel is trying to claim the only land the Palestinians had left. What did they do to deserve this? They are mere human beings, the same as you, me and everyone else. So tell me, what did they do to deserve such a nightmare?
On the 18th of May, during a regular Friday prayer, Israeli Jewish soldiers raided the holy site of Masjid-Al-Aqsa. WHO (World Health Organization) announced that 200,000 Palestinians are in need of health aid.
“The situation is volatile. WHO remains concerned … and calls for unhindered access for humanitarian and development-related essential supplies and staff into Gaza and referral of patients out of Gaza whenever needed,” WHO’s Rik Peeperkorn stated.
People are getting injured and it’s causing displacement. Palestine consists of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, first occupied by Egypt, then by Jordan and now by Israel, which leads us to the current conflict on making Palestine its own country. Not only does Palestine have a rich history that dates back hundreds of years, but it also has a religious value to both Jews, Christians and Muslims. The Masjid-Al Aqsa is said to be the place where the Prophet Muhammed had ascended to heaven, while Jerusalem holds great value to Muslims, Jews and Christians as it is said to be Jesus’s city of birth.
Imagine, just how much pain and suffering they are going through. In a Jerusalem neighbourhood, Palestinians are being evicted out of their homes. Joe Biden, the president of the United States Of America, has stated that the US will aid the Palestinians in Gaza after bombings. This was said to be stated by the president himself in a news report from AlJazeera.
The conflict that started around 100 years ago is called the Israel-Palestine conflict also called the Israel-Gaza conflict. Britain had taken control of the region of Palestine after defeating its current rulers, the Ottoman Empire in WW1.
This state was later inhabited by the Arab majority and Jewish minority. Tensions started to grow between the Arabs and Jews which caused Britain to officially make Palestine the national home for Jews, but of course, the Arabs were not satisfied with this and opposed their move. More people from Europe who were fleeing persecution because of the holocaust started to immigrate to Palestine. This caused the violence between the Arabs and Jews to grow as well as the violence against the British Rule. In 1948, the United Nations proclaimed the state of Palestine to be split into two states, one for the Jews and one for the Arabs.
The Jewish leaders accepted this while the Arab’s did not. It has since not been administered. So what can we do? The best we can do is support them through their troubles, donate to petitions that will help restore their homes and feed the many hungry children.
We can pray for a better future, where someday we will be able to see that Palestine as a better place with no war or violence. A place where peace is in the air and the sounds of children laughing and we can see their smiling faces once more. Maybe one day. One day we will see the freedom of Palestine. As a person only in school and just finishing off middle school, it frustrates me that there is nothing I can do. But I won’t give up hope for them. And neither should you.
What can I do to help?
Donate to the following links, a small donation can go a long way!
Islamic Relief Canada
Penny Appeal Canada
If you are for what Canadaever reason not able to donate, sign this petition instead.
(Editor’s Note: The Bramptonist has partnered with Earnscliffe Senior Public School and the Grade 7/8 class of teacher Rosemary Skea. Students have prepared a series of articles with the goal of having their voices heard in their own community. Other than minor changes for grammar and spelling, the Bramptonist has not edited any of the articles. The student writings are from their own unique lens of how they see their own environment, which the Bramptonist promotes).
