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Allpointswhole is an open conversation with seekers and journeyers alike on the path to becoming physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally Allpointswhole - with a W:)
 Welcome to All Points Whole Podcast. Today we have a very special person here with us. And um, I just want to start out by saying we are really honored.
To have you here. I know that you had to travel over an hour to be here. So welcome, uh, to all points whole podcast. This is a zoo. So welcome. Thank you. Um, thank you so much for having me. Yes. Very nice. Yeah. So, you know, um, why don't we just start there? So let's put this up a little closer. Why don't we just start there?
Um, so you live in North Carolina. How did you? come from this area, to this area from Gaza, and maybe even start with your childhood in Gaza. Okay. So describe that for us. We'll start there. So I'm 23 years old right now, but I spent 21 years in Gaza Strip. I grew up there. I experienced many stuff, experienced many wars.
I Through my lifetime in there, there has been like four aggressions against the Streb. Um, so I, um, I, I when I decided to get out of there, I knew that there's no future in there because of the occupation and the colonization for, In our land because of the Israelis and, um, I came here on a scholarship to study French literature at ETSU in Tennessee.
And then I decided to apply for asylum because I knew that if I get back home, I'm gonna, uh, get killed, basically. Right, right. And that is an awesome first kind of introduction into who you are and what brought you here. I know you shared a little bit. with me about, um, your childhood and your background and essentially that, that you really didn't have a right to pursue the things that you wanted to pursue.
And that kind of led towards you wanting to come to America. And then you would also mention an injury as well. So if you want to share a little bit about any of that. So, um, Just like, basic fact, uh, Middle Eastern families don't always allow females to travel by themselves and that was one of my biggest struggles because my family just needed a little bit more time to, uh, trust me on being by myself and it was just like me, them trying to protect me.
Right. And, um. Um, I decided to get out of Gaza when I graduated from high school. And, um, like, I've tried multiple times and my attempts failed. And then I had a really bad foot injury. And, uh, I decided that I want to stay there and just, uh, see what the future holds. I got my camera. I, uh, had a name. I named it Eve because, um, I felt like with Eve, I was able to express myself and communicate with the world and build my own perspective.
And through Eve, I was able to build my own perspective on the subject. and how I want to see it. Like, whenever I want to go out and take pictures with Eve, I would see the destruction and the sadness on people's faces. But what I wanted to document is something very different and very unique about Gaza that you cannot see in the news.
The, the beauty in Gaza and through my, through my photography, I was able to get a scholarship and to get here and, um, then yeah, I, yeah. That's so amazing. I love that you named your camera Eve. Yeah. I love that you gave it a name. Yeah. Because I think that's so important when you attach a name to something.
Definitely. It really does give it that meaning. That's such a beautiful story. Yeah. Uh, it was really a. beautiful gift from my family. I feel like my life without, uh, camera and without photography would have been different and I would have not been able to express myself and to communicate with the word as bit as good.
Um, but the thing is I had to leave Eve in Gaza because when I left through the Israeli border, uh, they didn't, they don't allow us to take, uh, electronics, electronics. Suitcases or anything that has metal. They don't even allow you to take lipstick. Wow. So I Had to leave Eve there and I left my memory cards my archive and I don't have access to any of this right now because Basically, nobody could get to our house because it's located in a Rimel, uh, neighborhood, which was attacked the first thing when this genocide started and they destroyed everything, like our whole neighborhood, like, so I lived in a neighborhood where in the previous wars and previous aggressions, they would not attack it at all because there is nothing in there.
Right. And when this war started. Like most people like it's a really classy neighborhood and most people like there's a lot of people live in there And when they started this war they started with bombing our neighborhood Which was really like okay, like we knew that they're gonna do something very bad something we've never seen before because they started it with killing and Uh, that many people and like bombing, like one of the most, uh, populated neighborhoods in Gaza Strip.
Wow. So it's like you knew the intensity, like it was confusing. Yes. What really is going on? They've never done this before. I mean, they, they have been bad. They have been like killing us for the longest time. I mean, my life has been shaped with, So many traumas of these wars and, uh, these aggressions, they have done this, this before.
I mean, like 2018, 2008, sorry, to, uh, 2014, uh, 2021, when I was about to come to America. Um, I remember that I was, that I, like, got my visa and I'm just, like, waiting for the next week to come here and, like, I really worked hard for this. I really worked hard to get a scholarship. I, like, really But, yeah, so, one week before I Okay, maybe it was more than a week.
But, what, like A second ago before I leave, uh, they started, uh, the war in 2021 and it was like 21 days and that was brutal because I remember these days when I, um, I just didn't know if I'm going to be able to survive this and if anything that I've ever done in my life is going to be able to save me from this.
After I got to leave and after I got to survive from this, uh, war, I knew that there's No way for me to get back, you know, right, right. You knew that that was your hope. And you had mentioned to me earlier too about your process at the border. So not only did you have to like leave your camera and all of that, um, but also your friend, um, was taken.
So share that story. So, um, me and two of my friends, we were at the Israeli border, we were just talking to one of the Israeli soldiers. And, uh, like, my friend was just confused about something that the Israeli soldier said. And me and my other friend laughed about him, so She asked us to sit down. She made us wait for like 30 minutes, and then three armed soldiers came to us.
They asked him to come for a security check, and they were armed. Like, that was terrifying because me and my other friend, like, The three of us were unarmed. We will not be able to protect ourselves. Like, we heard a lot about, yeah, uh, Israeli soldiers taking Palestinians and the West Bank, uh, and like arresting them for the longest time without even charging them with any, like, crimes.
And they would just, like, take them, uh, to prison for the longest time. So that was like, really scary. I'm so sorry. Yeah. Wow. Mm hmm. So when you got here Was anyone else with you or no, I was my man. You were alone And so you came to ETSU so kind of take us back to that moment What was that experience like for you when you when you got here?
well, um being my man was like It was really, it was really beautiful and at the same time a little bit scary because just leaving and leaving everything behind and like getting used to a new like country, new culture, new everything, uh, was pretty tough but at the same time it was so beautiful to see myself like in a position where I wanted to be and like to achieve the stuff that And, uh, like, yeah, so, um, I really liked studying at ADSU.
Yeah. That was really fun. Did you feel like it was an open, accepting, inviting environment? Yes, definitely. Yeah, um, definitely. I've Like a lot of people expect me to tell them about like, uh, a lot of like racist encounters with people in Tennessee and North Carolina, but I actually have never been treated bad or, uh, like I've never been, uh, Nobody ever discriminated, you know, right?
That's so awesome to hear. That's such a good thing Like that's your experience and I do feel like our area is moving in that direction So that's so exciting. Yeah, it is like people has just been so supporting so nice and Yeah, they they understand but at the same time you would find people who would like not understand what you've gone through And but like they wouldn't be ugly about it, right?
Right. And that's huge. You know, just that someone gave you an opportunity to sit and share is huge. So your family that's, that's back home. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about them because obviously, um, Are you still studying at ETSU while, like, things are beginning to happen? Or kind of walk us through that as well.
Okay, so I actually came here for just one semester. Okay. So I graduated. I don't have a degree. Okay. But I graduated for this semester. I was supposed to have a degree when I get back. Right. But I didn't. Right, because you can't go back. Yes. It's not safe. Yeah, it's not safe. It's like not worth it. But, um, a little bit about my family.
I have, uh, four sisters and two brothers. Two of my sisters live in Gaza. They have children and my brother is with his family, too. So a little bit about I want to talk a little bit about the situation for my people and my family in general before the award, because I feel like the image that the board is getting about us is just way different from what life was before this, because, like, when people look at us, they just see, like, um, like death.
And, like, misery, but before this happened, before the genocide started, like, people had, like, really beautiful homes, like, really, uh, good jobs, and, like, we had lives, and this is really important to keep reminding ourselves that we had something and this something was taken away from us just because some people think that they have the right to kill us just to take the land, and, um, Like, my sisters are now in Gaza.
I care about my sisters a lot. I have a really strong relationship with them. I've grew up with them, and they have taken care of me. They have been the most beautiful thing in my life. And their kids, I raised them. Like, they would come to our house, like, three times a week. Three times a week. So I literally grew up with them.
They grew up with me, right? And we just have this like really strong connection and Since the war started I could do not like every time I talk to my sisters. They're like Completely exhausted completely tired. They cannot I mean, how could you not be right? Right, like they're just they cannot look at the future With optimism And during this genocide, my brother in law, Hiba's husband, my sister, he passed away as he was really, um, Like stressed about the situation that his children are in and like the fact that he's cannot like provide water Right and his own children.
Yes, and like he got like this like sudden Disease in his stomach and he passed away within like one day and that's like This is what scares me the most because I know how much stress and trauma could affect your body and how much it could make your life shorter and I It hurts me that my sisters cannot see the future and Like, cannot see the future getting better or anything, and, uh, it scares me to think that they're not gonna, um, like, it scares me to know that they're always, uh, like, stressed and they're always, like, in a survival mode, and they're always sick, like, the amount of diseases that have been getting, that people have been getting is crazy, like, it's like, there's diseases that does not have any cure, so, and, like, the Uh, health system is broken, like, there's no, like, hospitals at all.
And, like, even if you get injured, if you get, like, if you want, like, really urgent health, uh, care, you will not be able to get it. Right, there's nothing left. Yes, so, like, every time they would tell me that one of my nephews or nieces are sick. I'm like really terrified and I cannot like think about anything but this, you know?
Yeah. I mean, I'm sure it's hard for you to function at all, knowing that your family who you've grown up with is back there suffering. Yeah. It's like, and the fact that there's, there's just so many children. This is what kills me the most because, like, my sister's, like, one of my sister's had three children, the other one had four, and, uh, my brother had four, and my, one of my sister's is getting, like, harassed by her ex abusive husband.
I saw that. Uh, there's no police enforcement in Gaza, so nobody could stop it, and, like, I just, I just get to hear about it in the phone, and I cannot do anything about it. Right. Right. And you just. Yeah, like, I, I do everything in my will to help them and like to protect them, but there's just so much that I could do, you know.
Right, there's only so much you could do. Yeah, and I, I know that um, the number I heard the other day I believe was like 15, 780 children have been killed, is that correct? Do you know of a different number? That was a figure I saw the other day. I don't know the accurate number. Right. But close to there.
Yeah, that was that was something I saw the other day. Um, and you know, it is genocide like that's something you've you've mentioned genocide a few times. And so I do want to touch on that as well. While we're thinking about it, you know, I think a lot of people are misinformed. But if you take time at all to just simply study history and know your facts and educate yourself, then you will understand that It is genocide, you know, um, so speak on that a little bit, just kind of your passion behind that and, and yeah.
So, um, before this genocide started, make, maybe like I would, like, I cannot excuse people for being ignorant because that, that leads to killing us and to this genocide. But like before this genocide start there was like so many wars as I mentioned before and these wars have affected people, a lot has been killed and affected the infrastructure, affected everything.
We don't have airports, we don't have uh, Like we don't have we cannot leave Gaza because they just have so many restrictions on our movement. And this is really important because people need to understand that all Israel wants is not Hamas. It's the land. And once you realize this, once you realize that they don't They did not need to do all of that to get rid of Hamas.
Hamas is not the, like the, okay, so the way the mainstream media, like, um, Talk about Hamas like they try to make it seem very powerful and like they're you know They have so much power, but this is just not accurate. They make their own weapons, right? like they make their own like it doesn't like if a rocket leaves Gaza to Israel the only thing that this rocket would do is Make one like side of the building like fall And it wouldn't kill anybody.
Right. Do you understand? Right. So the amount of, like, uh, difference in Bauer is just not accurate. And the way the mainstream media is trying to, uh, deliver this, uh, aspect is just not accurate. Yeah, I mean, it's intentional. You know, they're selling it as Hamas is, you know, this big, terrifying group, you know.
Um, but yeah, it's not accurate. It's not true. Yeah, and um, like, the fact, like, what are you expecting when you suppress people for 75 years and keep killing them and taking their land? Like, this is not the first genocide the Palestinian people have faced. In 1948, this was awful. A lot of people were killed and And the places that we, these people were killed, they built resorts and, like, uh, hotels, which is really, like, beyond insane.
And like the way the mainstream, yeah, uh, like try to visualize us as these people are so religious there, there's no diversity. They, uh, they, like, they talk about us like when it comes to fears and like, uh, gay people, they, uh, talk about how it's not a good environment in Gaza for these people. And I'm like, what, what is the point of that?
Even if it is not, What is the point? Are you saying that it is okay to kill us because some people don't accept it? Right. And I feel like this is just part of them trying to dehumanize us and like, try to show us as extremists, which is not right. And if you actually look closely, if you look at Palestinians, you're going to see the amount of diversity.
And I'm not saying that some people are not extreme. I'm just saying that. We do not deserve to be killed just because some of us are, you know, exactly and Like yeah, since just this genocide started. I feel like people have been like Questioning our narrative and this like the amount of Like, the amount of effort that they put in creating the narrative for Israel is insane.
But at the same time, it's genius because they have managed to, uh, like, make people, like, think that we are the bad people. You know, we are. The ones who are, like, upsetting God and we deserve death and the fact that the word is okay with the killing of that many children just because of the excuse of Hamas, like When did we get here?
Like, seriously, like, and I feel like people have got to understand that Like, once you accept killing children, then I don't, like, I don't Like what hope is there for you? Yeah. And you know, I, I feel the same way. Even people that I share things with, I feel like if they, and I shared this with you earlier, it's like, if you're not standing up for this, what does that tell me about you as a person?
And I don't feel comfortable aligning with you. You know, the innocent killing of children, you know, for people who have platforms, you know, we did this celebrity block out thing, 2024 the other day. All of these people, you know, also churches, you know, anyone with a platform who is not speaking up against the innocent killing of children.
It's complicit. Have blood on their hands. You know, and, and I'm sorry, take some time, educate yourself, do some research. Don't just listen to what you've been programmed to believe, you know, take some time, examine your heart, you know, like go within, don't be on. The wrong side of history. Yeah. And like the boycotting of these celebrities and these like name brands, I feel like it comes with a lot of like benefits for, for, for us as people, even Americans, because like, for example, when we call for like boycotting a name brand, that's like known for providing bad food, this is just us like, um, like raising awareness that these people are not just.
Supporting genocide. They're supporting like they're trying to kill. They're killing you too. Yeah, they're like, yeah, it's not just in gaza Yeah, exactly and it's like really important to realize how like our pathos are gonna are like meeting at this point and the freedom of palestinians is Uh, is connected to the freedom of Americans because we have been noticing that Americans have been, uh, getting harassed whenever they talk about, uh, Palestine and, uh, their freedom of speech has been taken away from them.
And this is just essential because this is what this country is all about. You know, this is what the, uh, establishing fathers fought for, you know? Right. I know. And that's something I've tried to explain. Like, yes, this is happening in Gaza, but wait until it happens to you. How would you feel if your daughter was going through, you know, uh, the border and she was snatched away for laughing?
You know? Like, how are you going to feel when that happens to you? It's like really unfair and, uh, it's really to recognize corruption when it's in front of our eyes, you know? Exactly, and to be aware, not to bury your head in the sand, you know, just because it's not right in front of your face. Like, these children are just like your children at home.
And like, you're doing yourself and the generations after you a favor when you educate yourself. Because, like, one day the history is gonna talk about the truth. And one day we're gonna, like, it's not like it's gonna change anything, but one day people are gonna realize that This genocide was the most terrible thing that ever happened in this century and when you educate yourself, you are building a better future for yourself and for your generations, you know, the generations that kind of come after you, so.
Exactly. Yeah. So we were just sharing a little bit about how it actually, um. Helps Americans to understand and study the history of what's really going on because that can bleed over into our freedom here. Um, and I know a lot of people feel like that's the way we are moving. Yeah, definitely. I mean, you see the college campuses, they're getting attacked for, and I feel like, why is it not allowed to do that, like, the encampments, people should not be attacked for that, police should not be arresting them, because universities and, uh, college campuses is where the change is supposed to start, and these people are getting attacked for, uh, Culling against inside, like, right.
And it's because it's being spun in the media as you know, that they're infiltrating and they're, and you know, I saw this with the protest in 2020. So, uh, you know, I was very interested and, um, Had some people on my podcast and was just like, this isn't right, but let me go check it out for myself. Like I really did not believe that racism was so prevalent still, just because, you know, it wasn't part of my reality that people I surrounded myself with, you know, so.
Um, and so anyway, when I, when I went down and saw it and saw that even our local news, um, was distorting reality. So once I witnessed that and I saw like all of the hate from that locally, there were like forums going on, you know, for our local news stations and thousands of people just speaking out.
Spewing hate and racism, but it's because they were believing the narrative that they were sold by the local news Which was a real eye opener for me because I've always believed the mainstream media was corrupt But to see it on a local level and to see the division and the chaos that that created created was infuriating.
So after that, you know, I was at every protest. I was covering it as much as I could because I was like, I can't stand for this. And that's how I feel also about Gaza. You know, I took some time to really think about it, let it simmer, really resonate. Okay. Thinking about history, all these things. And then when I saw that Met Gala, um, and they were doing that hunger games, dressing up as hunger games, right in our faces and them saying, let them eat cake.
I don't think that it was just, Not a sensitive comment. I think that it was an intentional comment. And so that was it for me. That was the last straw for me. And that's kind of what got me in touch with you, you know, as well. But I believe the whole reason that people are worried about the encampments is because they're being sold a lie that these people are coming in to riot and they're going to cause destruction.
And It's like, no, they're peacefully raising their voice. I know because I joined the protest in 2020 I was at every single one of them and I saw our local news presented as riots and they're coming in and you know, I mean it was outrageous. Like even a grown man assaulting a teenage African American girl and the news spinning the entire story when I was right there, you know, so I've just, I've seen this and I know that it's intentional.
It's really, like, I think it's creative, but at the same time it's really scary the way they do that. Right. Because they know how to control our minds and how to, like, try to make us, like, believe in some stuff. And some, like, the They're not accurate at all, and when it comes to Miguela and all of these celebrities, I, I personally don't believe in any of these celebrities because I know it's not like ever did to me.
Yeah, either. Yeah, but so many people do. You could tell that they're corrupt. Yes, you could tell, you know, it's like, yes, and like, So many of them at the beginning of the word, uh, like they started like expressing their, uh, like, uh, support to Israel and, and I feel like this is, uh, a red flag for me once I see this happens or like once I see a celebrity that's like trying to make us equal, like Israelis and Palestinians are both victims.
No, we're not. Right. There's only one victim in this case and it's Palestinians. We're the ones who are getting killed. We're the ones who, uh, like our houses are being taken away from us. Our land is taken away from us. And if you cannot come out and say this out loud and say that to your followers and your, like, to your followers, I don't want to, like, I don't want to follow you.
I don't want to listen to what you have to say, you know? Yeah. Because, but like, yeah, when it comes to Hollywood, Hollywood and like, uh, Movies and like TV shows. I feel like everything has been preparing us to accept this genocide. Oh yes. It's all been curated for sure. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. Uh, it is just so tragic.
It really is. Um, so how, what are the ages of your nieces and nephews that are at home? Well, they're basically all of them are under the age of 15. Okay. Um, I was just writing this. about one of my nephews. He's, uh, he's disabled. When he was born, he, uh, got this, uh, like, medical condition that did not allow him to, like, be able to talk or walk.
And his mom, I have, like, done a lot of work to help him do that, and just in the last two years, he was able to walk, even though he's, like, really, like, he's 14 years old, he's a big, he's a big boy. Yeah. And, uh, Uh, when, uh, the genocide started, my family had to evacuate the house within seconds because, and there's just so many children.
There was, like, eight children. Like, how do you even do that? Yeah, they took them, so our house is, like, two stores, so they had to come down the stairs, take, like, seven of these children, and they left him, like, last, and whenever I think about the moments of terror that he, like, so, like, Leaving, uh, his mom leaving, taking his siblings downstairs, and the whole house is shaken.
Like, he doesn't understand that. No. He still does not understand that. What is, what did he do wrong? His whole world is literally crumbling. And like, like, yeah, they, they took everything from us. They took our house. They took our lives. I mean, it, like, yeah. Are they in tents now? Is your family, are they staying in tents?
Is that? Chintz? No, no, no. So, they're staying in my sister's house in Deir el Balah. There's 17 people in the house. Okay, wow. So, it's like But they all have each other. Yes. Well, that's great. This is really important, yes. Having them together is the best part about this. Yeah, it's wonderful. I really hope they don't have each other.
to separate because this is what's keeping them going, you know, right. It's like still terrifying because when you live with somebody for that long and you're always nervous and you're always stressed. Oh my gosh. You can't take it for too long. No, you can't. So it's a very, uh, creates an environment that can be very unstable because everyone's processing their trauma in different ways and they have no outlet.
Like you said earlier, your outlet was Eve, you know, but not everyone gets. And in the midst of like hearing bombs go off, you know, I mean, how are you able, you're not even able to process that through your body. So then you put 17 people together that are processing that differently. And then, yeah, that's a whole nother set of problems.
Yeah. Like, uh, after my brother in law, Uh, my niece, Tiala, she's my favorite. She's, uh, she looks a lot like me. And, uh, she acts a lot like me. But anyways, she is not even, as a child, she's not even getting the chance to grieve her dad. Right. Because she's just, like, in constant fear. Yeah, under the next trauma.
Yeah. Like, there's just not enough for her. time for them to relax or to, uh, like heal, you know, because it's not over yet. And it's going to take them forever after that to even, like, get to the point where they could even think about healing. Because after this, when this is done, like, People, like, the houses are gone.
Do you understand? Like, there's no jobs. Right. So, like, and this is another stress. How do you even rebuild? Yeah, so this is, is another stress. Like, you have to build the house somehow, you have to get a job somehow, and then you could, you could start thinking about your healing, if you're lucky, maybe when you're 50.
Right, exactly. So, it's just not fair. Right. And I, um, like, what people need to understand is that this war is about land. and nothing else. It's about land. They want the land and they have taken a lot of it. Uh, I mean, this goes back to biblical, you know, I mean, this has been going on, you know, forever, you know, and we know, like, if you study history, they want the land.
Like that is a clear But if you just watch the news and you're brainwashed by mainstreet media, then you're being sold a lie. Yeah, take the time to do the research for yourself, you know. I feel like people just owe that to themselves, you know. Yes, that's a good point. To themselves, you know. They owe that to themselves, not even the people of Gaza, but to themselves.
That's such a great point. Like if you're, if you're If you're talking about what's happening, again, you're just, like, building a better future for yourself, not for me, because, like, I'm still going to struggle after this war is done, but, like, you, you're building a better thing for yourself, and, like, when I talk about healing, like, even after I left Gaza, I thought that I'm going to have the chance to relax and maybe get the chance to build a better life and heal.
But, uh, the fact that this trauma and the fact that this trauma is, like, following me even though I'm in another continent, you know? Like, it's, the oppression against Palestinians is just not in Gaza, it's in the West Bank. It's in all the countries that they've been, uh, the, that they've been immigrated to.
Okay. And, um, it just, um, misery that will not end unless Israel, uh, stop this tour, you know? Right. So, So talk about that a little bit. I didn't know about that. What just, you were saying that it's not just in Gaza. There are other areas as well where you feel like Palestinians are being oppressed. Yeah. So, like in the West Bank, for example, like people are.
Getting taken from their homes even though they're like not even doing anything and they get arrested they They get arrested in the checkpoints. Do you understand there's checkpoints? It's like when we think about colonization We think that it ended like centuries ago, right? It's still happening. Yes, it is discrimination between like this person and this person and just because of um Like, the idea that they have, and this is just not fair.
And, uh, when I talk about oppression against the Palestinians, and outside Gaza, I'm talking about all the, uh, like, uh, like, all the, uh, For example, the encampments. People have been getting arrested, and this is a big thing, because they are getting arrested not because they're violent, but because there is enough, uh, force, uh, that's controlled by Israel to, like, to arrest them.
You know what I mean? Right. Right. And it's, it's scary to, like, be in a country where you know that this country is not pro Palestinian, for example, or it does not support your cause, or it does not, like, in my, uh, my government ID, my American government ID, I'm stateless. Wow. Like, I don't, like, yeah, they don't recognize me as Palestinian, they don't recognize Palestine.
Wow. Yeah, this is just, like, a really, yeah. What? So. Yeah, and um, yeah, so yeah, this is part of it. Wow. That is so interesting. And a lot comes with this. Like, when you are stateless, there's just so much stuff that comes with this. Right. Well, why don't you tell us about that? Okay. What comes with being stateless?
I don't know. Like, um, when you don't Okay. When you talk about, for example, when the United States recognized wars against countries, that comes with For example, like Ukrainians, when the war started in Ukraine, uh, Ukrainians, uh, got the, uh, opportunity to immigrate here because the, uh, United States, uh, recognized their country as, like, it is getting attacked and oppressed by the Russians.
Right, right, I remember all of this. And, but the fact that they don't, like, recognize this, they don't recognize us as a country. Right. Therefore, they don't recognize us. They don't recognize the right for us to defend ourselves. They don't, uh, like, they Like, there's no programs that, like, allow Palestinians to immigrate to the States, for example, because of the war.
I mean, there has been, like, a little bit of stuff that changed, like, but there's nothing major that would, like, help Palestinians who are in need right now. And, yeah, this is, like, kind of, uh Way to discriminate between two people who are going through, uh, the same thing, but one of them is way more in need than the other.
Right. I'm not saying that somebody should not receive help, for example. Right. This is definitely not. I'm just saying that we, yeah. Your people have been oppressed. Yes. Yeah. For thousands of years. Yeah. Yeah, and you know, um, I just don't see how people don't see the direct, like, correlation between, like, Nazi Germany and all of this.
Like, I'm not sure how people don't understand the parallels. Um, you know, because we in America, um, growing up, we're like, how could this have happened right before our eyes? Like, that's how we all felt, you know, reading history books. Like, how? How? And it's like, like this, just like this, that's what's happening right now.
And there's people who are just choosing to say, to stay asleep to it, you know, but it's like, recognize, you know, the correlation. Like when I used to hear stories about 1948, uh, and like the amount of, uh, displaced people who like had to evacuate their homes and Palestine, um, like. I, like me and my friends, were like wondering how How people did let that happen and we thought that it only happened because there was like no media to deliver the news Right, but then realized that it's worse when there's media because they're selling you a propaganda.
They're selling you like false Narrative that they created so perfectly to the point that you believe it you like you put Israeli flag outside of your house and you're proud of it and and Knowing that these people have been killing children, like, And you said you saw that today, right? You passed through Johnson City today, right?
And you saw an Israeli flag outside of someone's house. Yeah, and, you know, I feel like They probably also watch Fox News. Yeah, and like, um, a lot of Palestinian people are scared of, like, putting flags outside of their houses in America because they know that they might get, like, attacked and, uh, by pro Israelis.
And this is just the truth. It is like, Getting worse and worse for, for example, I know, um, SME who introduced me to you. Yeah. She had the Palestinian flag at work. Mm-Hmm. . Yeah. And I don't know if you know this story, but they, they told her that she had to remove it. Yeah. You know, and um, she was just outraged.
Yeah. Like, um, but yeah, they were like, not in this area. You know, people don't understand what it's like. Well, we are, we're here to help you understand. Yeah. We're here to help you, you know, be aware of the truth. Yeah, exactly. Of actual reality. Yeah, I feel like if people were more open to listen and to support Palestinians and the Palestinian cause and not to be scared of what other people might do, that could help a little bit because pro Israelis already have a lot of power on them, uh, either from the government or like from themselves as individuals.
Right. So we just like need to empower the Palestinian narrative and pro Palestinian people in America, you know. Yes. So, yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. Wow. I just can't imagine like what it must be like to every day go to bed worrying. about your family. You know, I mean, growing up your safety and then fearing their safety, but for you to feel like almost survivor's guilt, you know, like, why am I here?
And 17 of my family members are back there, you know, and just, what is your experience with survivor's guilt? Well, um, I feel like, just, like, the first thing I think about when I wake up is them and they're the last thing I think about when I go to sleep. I feel like it's a, it's a really big responsibility to be responsible for that many people and the fact that there is most of them, most of them are children.
It's a big responsibility and um, I have been responsible for them for six months right now. And, just like, Um, like, knowing that I'm safe and there's nothing that could hurt me is like, you know, it's just, I feel like this is unfair because we should have been going through this together. You know, like all I want right now is to be with my sisters, even though I don't want to give back, but like I don't want them to be alone.
I want to be there to help them because I know that I would have been able to make a difference. But at the same time, I, um, The way I deal with this is whenever I feel like, uh, I'm not doing enough, I don't sit down and cry. I just do more, you know, like my way of loving, yeah, my way of loving my family is, I love them by talking about them, by providing them with the stuff they need, by protecting them.
And this is just the way I express myself. I never, uh, really like, uh, like give up, you know, I cannot give up. It's not an option. And so. I feel the same way. I never give up. I'm never gonna give up. Yeah, you can't give up on family. No, they must be so proud of you. Yeah. Are they able to see any of your things, like on your Instagram yeah.
They do. I feel like our relationship has been, like, getting really close, too. Even, like, after I traveled, I feel like we have been getting closer and closer every time, you know? Mm hmm. Like, I, it's insane, but, like, I talk to my family every day. That's so nice. And, like, yeah, and, like Yeah, we're just so close and I love this.
I feel like family is the most important thing in life and, uh, we just live for family, you know? Right. So, yeah. Right. Are they where they are now? I mean, I guess they're in constant fear, right? That in any moment where they are could be bombed. I mean, right. Like any moment. I mean, they, they have evacuated the house that they lived in right now, multiple times.
Right. And, uh, A couple, like a few bombs have been dropped in the same like spot, like there's no windows in the house. The ceiling is like a little bit affected, but they still have a roof on the top of their head. But this is like subject to change any second because literally any second. Yes. Because they're Bella has not been fully invaded by Israel yet.
Okay. Which makes me always scared and in constant fear. You know, that. They might have to evacuate and live in a tent, which is like terrible. Do you understand? Like when I think about like, okay, let me tell you something. I have a greenhouse. We have a greenhouse on the land and I cannot sit in the greenhouse more than 20 minutes, because it gets too hot.
And I put myself in these people's shoes, and like, I imagine living in these tents with bugs, and like, with a lot of, uh, like, Trash around your of course tents. And these people are not used to that. These people had beautiful lives. Like some of my friends were really like rich, and they had like, really, they were in a really good, uh, financial situation.
And right now they're living in tents, which is, which does not make any sense. Right. And these people have just going, been going through a lot and yeah, it's like, like, wow. Like we said before, like, tents are made out for camping not for living. You know, not to become a permanent house. So. And I think the image that we get sold is that, you know, that is part of the curated narrative.
The image we get sold is, oh, yeah They're gonna slide out. No, they're just living in tents. Like, you don't see that in us. They don't have that idea of what you said, like actual stable, wealthy families that were in normal neighborhoods are now living in tents in the heat, getting diseases that aren't treatable.
It's like, yeah, people need to. I'm not saying that Gaza was perfect before the genocide started. I'm just saying that there was just so many investors. There was just so many good businesses. There was just so many rich people. And there was just a really good sense of community, too. And this has just changed because everybody has to focus on themselves and to help their families.
So nobody could help anybody anymore. Which was intentional, I'm sure. Yeah, I mean Everything that they do is intentional, right? Like it's, yeah. And that's what we, again, need to educate on ourselves is just that, that everything is intentional and there is history to it, you know, and, and all of that. Wow.
Yeah. Gosh, girl. So much. So have you started any kind of therapy here at all? Or, or is there anyone that like any group that you can link up with even that's like other people? from Gaza, any type of support group? Um, not really not support groups. I, um, I have a really, really good therapist. I love her so much.
I connected with her when this work, this genocide started. And, um, she has been, uh, like helping me get through that. And, um, yeah, this is, this is what's helping me like, uh, like, Able to like keep going. Yeah. And I love that you're a fighter and a survivor and you're like, no, if I get depressed and sad, then I just do more.
Yeah. I, I can't, I cannot sit around, just do nothing, you know, this is just not me, you know? Yeah. And it gets you nowhere. And clearly you have a calling and a mission to. to help your people. Yeah, I mean, definitely. Um, I've, I could have, I could have been one of these people who died basically because, um, yeah, they, they don't discriminate.
They kill us all. Exactly. They don't discriminate. Yeah. And you know, when we think about that with Nazi Germany, you know, and that's exactly how it was. Like those are the stories we read. They come in and they just take the women and children and they separate them and tear them apart. You know, like, This is no different.
Like, no, there's not a gas chamber. Yeah. But I mean, what is the difference? Yeah. And at the beginning of this, they were talking about like a female, um, Israeli getting raped by Hamas. Yes. I remember this story that they put out. Listen, I'm not like a really big fan of Hamas, but I know they will never do this shit.
Right. And The amount of freeboards and how many females and how many women have been, uh, getting abused because of the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the fact that they arrest them, they take them, they torture them, they, uh, strip them of their clothes, they, uh, don't allow them to, like, they make them stand in the cold.
And some, uh, rape, uh, Uh, cases have been re boarded and nobody is doing anything about it, you know, and this is just awful because these women have nobody to, like, to care for them or to protect them, and this is really important to talk about, you know, uh, yeah. So how will They rebuild, let's say that by some miracle, you know, as raising our voices and bringing awareness and more people using their platforms, how will Gaza rebuild?
I mean, is that even anything that, that you can think about that your people can think about? I mean, I'm sure they've rebuilt many times. Yeah. So In the previous wars, if you're asking about, like, if, okay, Just kind of, like you said, there's no jobs, there's no homes. Yeah. I mean, they've blown everything up.
So, like, where do you go from there? Yeah. In the previous wars, uh, like, people have waited 10 years to get their house rebuilt. For example, my best friend, she, her house, It took like eight years to get rebuilt, and it wasn't like, yeah, and it was not like fully funded. Right. And like, it's, it takes so much time.
And at that point, the situation was better, but right now it's like way worse, you know? Yes. Yeah. Wow. That's crazy. Like the amount of destruction that has like has been going on and like has been caused by these aggressions, it's just insane that there's just no enough like resources in Gaza I don't think there is going to be for the longest time.
And don't misunderstand me when people talk about like leaving to Egypt, they don't want to leave to Egypt and live there. They don't want to leave their country. They just want to escape the war for a second. That would be like, we want to stay in our country and get back like my family, for example, like, even though they're really right now struggling, but they want to live in Palestine.
They want to stay there because this is where their land is. This is where the house is. But. Yes. Exactly. Yes. Just like we would not want to flee our country, they also do not want to flee their country. That's where their lives are. That's where their homes are. I want to ask you just as we close out today, I know that you have a Gophonme and I want to definitely put that out there for all of the world to hear and talk about that because maybe through just raising our voices and sharing your story and um, continuing.
To share your story and help you in any way that I can personally. Um, but one way that people can actually just make a simple. You know, way to help is just a donation, you know, and so your go fund me, do you have that, that you can say out what it is so that people can go there and visit? I know you had like a 50, 000 goal initially, and you've raised close to 7, 000, which that's awesome.
Yeah, it's, um, it's taking me too much time because the amount is just too big. But, um, with this money, my family will be either able to evacuate to Egypt if the war is not over. done yet or like even get the chance to build our house because it has been affected and this money would go towards, uh, like saving the life of 17 people and like making a better future for them.
And, yes. So what else do you want to? That's so awesome. No, that's just so great. And then, is there, um, I can share a link too, and I have shared a link, um, but to your GoFundMe. Do you have that? That you could say what it is? It's GoFundMe slash? Um, Help Save El Camarita Family. Yes, it is. Yes, yes. I think it's better to.
share it as well. Yeah, the link. Um, so that you can also, and also if listeners, you know, one simple way is to give financially. Some people can only give financially, you know, they're not going to get out of their homes. But other ways that you can give. And support is raising your voice. Using your platform, whether you're Talk about it.
Yeah, exactly. Just talk about it. Whether it's with your friend over coffee, whether you have a social media platform, whether you're a pastor, um, you know, whatever it is, just talk about it with people. Yeah, if you have influence, yeah, definitely. That really helps, you know. Yeah, and so that's another way to give, you know.
But definitely financially, it's just an easy, simple way to give. And so I will share that on here as well. Um, is there anything else that you feel like you want to share with us today? Um, I think we've done, we covered it all again. It's just such an honor to meet you. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart, and I hope.
I hope that I can continue to work with you and maybe our goal will be beyond 50, 000 and maybe we'll be able to really make some impact. Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. This is really beautiful conversation. I feel like we have covered all the points that we should, you know, and this should be enough resource for people to, uh, like get a better understanding of what's going on and about the situation in Gaza.
So absolutely. Yeah. Well, thank you so much. Yeah. Thank you. All right. We'll look at the camera. This is the one.