Battlefield II, Gaza version
I used to have to log in to play Battlefield II. Now it’s real life.
we are not numbers
emerging writers from Palestine tell their stories and advocate for their human rights
Bashar, 19, describes himself as "an ambitious Palestinian." He is studying medicine at the Islamic University of Gaza, and has three brothers and two sisters. "Although young, I have seen planes hovering in the sky and missiles targeting the dreams of 2 million Palestinians living in a prison. I have heard thousands of screams, which follow me in my nightmares. My childhood has been slowly taken from me. But I stood strong as everyone did. What I know as a Palestinian is that nobody can destroy my will. What I know is that I am living to deliver a message; I am a Palestinian, and I am not a number." [The caption in his photo: "Know your purpose."]
Obviously, Bashar loves to write, but he also is avid about swimming, football (soccer) and reading.
I used to have to log in to play Battlefield II. Now it’s real life.
For Palestinians, traveling through the Erez crossing from Gaza into Israel is a journey fraught with risk.
I finally understand the message my grandfather tried to teach me: to live, you have to struggle.
Most people’s memories are of trips, school assignments, jobs lost and obtained. I have memories of a night when I thought dawn would not come.
