'The danger is that the Palestinian remains a topic, not a self.'
- Mahmoud Darwish
Keeping these words in mind, I carefully considered what message I wanted to convey on this page. Initially, I wanted to mention history and how Palestine has been the subject of Israel's atrocious crimes against humanity, practicing apartheid and persecution against Palestinians. Every day, bits of Palestine and the Palestinian people are being erased from our collective memory. There is enough to say about the unfairness in this world, but at this moment, I'm shifting away from treating Palestine as merely a subject of study.
I want to quote a young traveler named Joe Jayyab from Gaza. This is a passage from a testimony he wrote on October 13, 2023.
'I experienced all the Palestinian suffering. The difficulty of mobility and checkpoints in the West Bank. The war, the psychological and intellectual conflict inside the occupied territories, and certainly the suffering of my family and the city of Gaza and the violent aggression it is now being subjected to. I've wished to live as the world lives in peace and security, but I was forced to live with a painful reality. Glory be to Allah who fulfilled my promise to visit my country and pray in Al-Aqsa before leaving this world. I swear, I have seen nothing but goodness from the 1948 Palestinians, the West Bank, and Jerusalem as if I were descending upon them from heaven. Generosity like you've never seen before. I can never thank you enough.
If Allah prolongs my life, you will see the details of this journey. You will see a river of tears. Our country is a paradise; its smell is different, its food is different, and its wind is different. Life there is different. Yes, I am Joe, the youngest traveler in Palestine, from a traveler roaming the country with his suitcase to a traveler searching for safety in Gaza.
Take care of the country and keep spreading the word about its beauty because Palestine is the most beautiful country.'
- Joe Jayyab
I have been fortunate to visit Palestine this year and witness its beauty, as described by Joe. My encounters with Palestinians were filled with warmth, often echoing a simple yet important message: 'Keep visiting us and remember Al Aqsa.'
I share these words and photographs in the hope of inspiring you to visit Palestine (if possible) when the opportunity arises again. Palestine is a place where real lives unfold daily. Its people are not a distant 'topic' but individuals with their own stories, struggles, and dreams—a 'self.'
May Allah protect the Palestinians and deliver us a free Palestine.