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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

UN Palestinian statehood bid: Gaza has no saying

Whether you are with or against UN statehood bid, if you live in Gaza you are asked to shut up



Gaza, September 21, So, what do you think about the awaited UN Palestinian statehood bid? OH SHUT UP. I don’t care what you really think. How would you feel if someone did this to you? Well, let me tell you it truly sucks. I have been doing my homework for days reading the opposing and supporting opinion of the UN statehood bid. I read every point: 194, right of return, Palestinian lands, borders, Palestinian prisoners, war crimes and so much more. I read so many opinions and so many debates whether with or against this UN statehood bid. Just when I was getting ready to write a new blog post discussing those issues and these points, Hamas issued a statement declaring their prevention to any events or rallies relating to UN statehood bid whether supporting or opposing.


So, all my hard work goes in vain. Apparently, Gaza’s opinion isn’t important. So we should remain silent, stay at home, watch the news on TV and just feel nothing???? How can I remain silent? How can I stop myself from rallying or hitting the streets? And why should Gaza be always oppressed?

Why do Gazan youth have to always turn to social network and blogging instead of hitting the streets freely and express their opinions and voice?

I saw the West Bank on the news today. Huge numbers of Palestinians rallying in the streets defying the Israeli occupation forces to express their opinions freely. They weren’t asked to shut and feel nothing like us in Gaza. How cant I be jealous? How cant I feel less Palestinian when I watch my fellow Palestinians challenging the Israeli forces in the West Bank to have their voice heard?

I felt ashamed. I felt less Palestinian. I felt frustrated and outraged. I felt numb. Israeli siege makes things hard enough and now its harder because I felt like I am separated from the West Bank even more. I felt like Gaza isn’t a part of Palestine.

I can hide inside my house and record a video saying my opinion, or maybe turn to social media and blogging, or call a friend and discuss this with him\her but nothing feels like being free enough to hit the street and SHOUT your opinion and rant out loud with no fear or Oppression.

How will I stop feeling ashamed and coward and be able to hit the streets after this bid fails or succeeds? ONLY IF we were allowed to even do that. I failed myself and my country today and I don’t feel like I deserve to share my opinion or even track the bid’s coverage or participate in it.

I am sorry Palestine. I am sorry I was asked to shut up and remain silent. I am sorry I have to stand still and say nothing while you go through a historical momentum. I am sorry I cant hit the streets and shout your name out loud. I am sorry that Gaza doesn’t seem like a part of you. I am sorry Fatah and Hamas havent reconciled yet. I am sorry we aren’t one. I am sorry we aren’t all of us in this together. I am sorry that it doesn’t matter whether I am with or against this bid. I am truly sorry Palestine.

So I am doing what I was told to do. I am shutting up and remaining silent. Don’t ask me if I am with or against because it doesn’t matter what I think or want. I will do my best to feel numb. I will do my best to forgive myself for not being able to be a part of this historical momentum that will make a difference for my country and my people whether it succeeds or fails.

I always felt proud that I live in Gaza, always felt Palestinian more than any other Palestinian. Today, I feel different. I am ashamed. I wish I was living in the West Bank or any other country. I would have been able to speak out loud of what I think.

I love you Palestine. I hope you forgive me one day and I hope I can forgive myself also.


Follow my silence on twitter: @Omar_Gaza



7 comments:

  1. A very impressive post! I found the link on your FB wall, but didn't know, that this is your blog, my dear friend! Even if I started to share it, I was aware about the autor!
    Certainly we are not particulary threatened as you are, we don't miss all the things as the Gazans do and we have all we need for livelihood. But many of us are outraged and dispaired as you are, because we don't see any possibility to turn the upside policies back on their feet; by introducing justice and speak out the truth.
    It is terrible to realize that one is powerless to divert the path into the abyss!
    Finally we all will be Palestinians!

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  2. and again a brilliant piece Omar,

    congrats
    with all my best.

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  3. you certainly dont live in any definition of normalcy ....i suspect if you didnt have cause for resistence ....you wouldnt have the need for a resistence movement ...i am a secularist , my Islam is for another to judge at another time , so i wouldnt particulary appreciate Haniyeh demanding a window on my soul ...that said ...the West Bank is not free ...you write of it longingly ....i am as anti the Fatah clique in Ramallah as it is possible to be , but for Marwan and the people who look to him, i would write them off completely . they have exchanged Historic Palestine for an amerikkkan granted Bantustan , a dunghill that their cockrels can strut and crow upon , their rayban goons bristle with amerikkkan arms in their amerikkkan jeeps ...Mo Dahlan smirks and swaggers ....poor Abu Ammar poisoned whilst on fast ...i dont support the authoritarian regieme in Gaza ...but the alternative is selling its heritage for $1000 suits and pockets full of crisp Shekels ...i wish you lived in normalcy , but you dont ...good luck and a free future for Gazan Youth ...i wish it was different ...but the occupation is a fact that affects all other things that follow

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  4. Sorry if i didnt make it clear ...i am for ONE State called Palestine from the river to the sea . secular inclusive ...Muslim Jew and Christian living and worshipping in peace and security ...a non confessional voting system ...a beacon to its neighbours .i have been a vocal Palestian by proxy for more than 50 years ,please Youtube Palestinian flags at Celtic Park to see you have supporters in Scotland ..so i am against the Bid ...

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  5. Thank you all! Britfree I appreciate ur comments! this is also what we want! A free Palestine that embraces every1! Thank you for ur support!

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