Has anyone ever been to Palestine?

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I went to high school with a girl from Palestine. She lived in 1 room with her mum and (I think) sister and went on to Cambridge, which no one from our school did.

I never asked about her experiences. I wonder if anyone here has any experience of Palestine?

this

There's no such place as Palestine currently. do you mean have people ever been to Gaza/the West bank or been to Israel

A little girl from a nursery I temp at is from Palestine and came to the UK with her family as her dad was studying at UCL, he kept delaying completing his work so they could stay for longer. Until then I hadn't met anyone from Palestine.

She has been at the nursery for over a year and has an English accent and unless you knew she was Palestinian you would think she was Mediterranean or European. She was so clever and bright and very helpful.

They went back 2 weeks ago I wonder what happened to them. I'm not visiting that nursery for a few weeks and I wonder if they even know
what happend to her.

This is exactly who I'd like to hear from. Not so much from Gazza but the West Bank. What's like like if you live in area A or B or C.

There seems to be little accounts except for newspapers with an ax to ground one side or the other.

So called 'experts'on this forum want to discuss it which only makes it feel more taboo.

Why is it such a secret?

What’s your AIBU?

Not me but a good friend has done lots of volunteering in gaza and the west bank over the years. Pretty horrendous stories of day to day life - intermittent power, scarcity of food and sometimes water. Hideous treatment by the IDF. One olive grove belonging to a family she was working on was burned to the ground overnight. It's certainly not a nice place to live that's for sure

I have a Palestinian friend. Her pain is absolutely devastating to have to observe. She can't contact her family in Gaza anymore, and the last she got from them was photos of their destroyed home. Now they are being starved/denied water & power and suffering who only knows what else.

Beyond awful.

Perhaps "the Occupied Palestinian territories" (OPTs) would be more accurate than Palestine

Friend has been there many times with aid agency. Conditions and day to day life under the Jack boot of Israel was unbearable even before this latest ‘war’.

There are still living people who remember Palestine as it should be before it was invaded by settlers so the question is fair. And Palestinian territory still counts as Palestine. People there have such a rich culture and history going back centuries, you can’t erase it just by geography.

I've never been, but I'm seriously thinking of going out there to join one of the local groups who try to protect local Palestinians from the atrocious settler violence in the West Bank (I believe the term they use is "providing a protective presence")

That said, I'm not a young spring chicken -- I'm not sure how much use I will be ! But I know how to stand my ground !

Honestly you will be in way and liable to get yourself killed so stay out of it.

Know how to stand your ground is laughable.

I have been to thr west Bank to Bethlehem. This was 10 years ago and it was one of the saddest experiences of my life. Unbelievable crossing the border through snaking lines barbed wire a huge wall
A deeply humiliating experience for rhe men who go back and forth for work. Then for those who aren't able to cross there is visible and awful poverty

The way the Israeli young soldiers with huge guns treated the men ...humiliating them laughing at them ....20 yesr olds in uniform waving guns at old Palestinian men. Was awful to see..but I also saw rhe fear from those young soldiers as well because they fo fear Palestinians
They don't see h8w terrifying they are in uniform and with guns

It's a fascinating and awful place

It was very obvious when going through the crossing thst such a horrible injustice would end up imploding into serious violence.

It's heartbreaking for all who live in the region....and complex andnI hope there is a more enlightened approach from the US and UK in supporting peacemakers not war in our lifetime

I have. As the poster above said, it was a very sad experience.
One of the things that stood out to me was all the graffiti along the Palestine side of the wall... some of it was hauntingly sad. I vividly remember seeing a big piece that said something like "Break here for freedom."

"Being in the way" is the whole point
There are lots of people doing it

There are Hamas units in the West Bank (particularly in Jenin refugee camp). The strict border controls between the West Bank and Israel was established after many years of Palestinian terrorism (the first and second intifadas). This included bus bombings, shootings of people sat in cafe, exploding cars etc.

Hopefully one day most Palestinians will accept Israel’s right to exist, and then the work can begin towards a just 2 state solution. Until then, there will be fear on both sides.

Maybe Israelis could start by not torching Palestinian villages

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c623zkwd04qo

'Know how to stand your ground'

Against a misdirected Hamas bomb or an IDF missile? Impressive.

I’ve been to Israel.

It is a very brave and admirable thing to do, but if you haven't already, please try to talk to others who have done it. I have talked to people who went from the UK, wasn't intending to go but interested in their experience.
The IDF will target you too, many had tanks advancing towards them, were fired at, and injured (luckily not too seriously) for trying to protect civilians and inhabited areas.
Tom Hurndall, a young British activist, was shot in the head and killed by an IDF sniper while trying to protect children who were in the line of fire.

oh my goodness ! another old thread bumped for no reason at all...

I have been to Israel - beautiful country.

but cannot imagine what it is like now to live in a house / flat / whatever that has a safe room.

A safe room !!! what an awful way to live

and those families that were tricked out of their safe rooms last Oct 7th to be murdered / raped and/or taken hostage - how awful, just awful.

over 10 months later and there are still hostages.

when are they coming home ?

That should be the question ! When are they coming home...

There is. Stop repeating Israeli propaganda.