Today, we remember. Tal Al-Zaatar. Hill of Thyme, where 3,000 Palestinians were martyred by zionist-backed Christian militias.
"I am Ahmad, the Arab.
I am the bullet, the orange, the memories,
And I found myself close to myself,
So I distanced myself from the dew and the maritime scene,
Tal Al-Zaatar, the tent,
And I am the homeland that came and inhabited me,
And I am the constant journey to the homeland,
And I found myself filled with myself..."
The tragedy of Tal El Zaatar is one of darkest chapters written in the history of the liberation for Palestine. It is a crime that was committed against people who had been already dispossessed, displaced, murdered, and forgotten. It was an attempt to dispossess, displace, murder, and forget them again.
The Tal El Zaatar refugee camp for Palestinian refugees was established in 1950, an UNRWA administered refugee camp for Palestinian refugees in northeastern Beirut. The area housed, alongside Palestinian refugees, a Lebanese working class, the majority of whom had come to work under harsh conditions from the southern regions of Lebanon. The population of the area was 25,000, half of whom were Palestinians.
"I haven’t washed my blood from the bread of my enemies,
But every time my steps cross a path,
Both distant and close roads flee.
Every time I approach a capital, it throws a bag at me.
So, I take refuge on the pavement of dreams and poetry.
How much I walk toward my dream, only to be outraced by daggers.
Oh, my dream and Rome!
Beautiful you are in exile,
Dead you are in Rome,
And Haifa, from here it began,
And Ahmad, the ascent of [Mount] Carmel,
With the blessing of dew, native thyme, and home."
"I am Ahmad, the Arab.
I am the bullet, the orange, the memories,
And I found myself close to myself,
So I distanced myself from the dew and the maritime scene,
Tal Al-Zaatar, the tent,
And I am the homeland that came and inhabited me,
And I am the constant journey to the homeland,
And I found myself filled with myself..."
The tragedy of Tal El Zaatar is one of darkest chapters written in the history of the liberation for Palestine. It is a crime that was committed against people who had been already dispossessed, displaced, murdered, and forgotten. It was an attempt to dispossess, displace, murder, and forget them again.
The Tal El Zaatar refugee camp for Palestinian refugees was established in 1950, an UNRWA administered refugee camp for Palestinian refugees in northeastern Beirut. The area housed, alongside Palestinian refugees, a Lebanese working class, the majority of whom had come to work under harsh conditions from the southern regions of Lebanon. The population of the area was 25,000, half of whom were Palestinians.
"I haven’t washed my blood from the bread of my enemies,
But every time my steps cross a path,
Both distant and close roads flee.
Every time I approach a capital, it throws a bag at me.
So, I take refuge on the pavement of dreams and poetry.
How much I walk toward my dream, only to be outraced by daggers.
Oh, my dream and Rome!
Beautiful you are in exile,
Dead you are in Rome,
And Haifa, from here it began,
And Ahmad, the ascent of [Mount] Carmel,
With the blessing of dew, native thyme, and home."
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"I ascend from the eyes of those coming to the sunset of the plain,
I ascend from the vegetable boxes,
And the strength of things, I ascend,
I belong to my first sky and to the poor in all alleys,
They chant:
We are steadfast,
And steadfast,
And steadfast."
On April 13, 1975, an assassination attempt targeted Pierre Gemayel, the leader of the fascist Christian Kataeb Party. Gemayel accused Palestinians of being behind it. On the same day and in the same area, the Kataeb Party targeted a bus in Ain El-Rummaneh heading to the Tal El Zaatar camp, opening fire on its passengers killing 27 people. This would be the start of 15 years of bloodshed in Lebanon after the right-wing parties in Lebanon announced their war on Palestinian presence and the Lebanese parties allied with them.
The siege on the camp began in January of 1976. On June 17th, fascist forces began their attack on Tal El Zaatar. More than 8,000 bombs fell on the camp that day. Electricity, water, and roads were cut off. Hundreds of civilians were martyred or injured. On August 12th, a large attack started following Syria's entry. All kinds of atrocities were carried out, with indiscriminate killing of women, children, and elderly. Women were raped, and pregnant mothers had their bellies cut.
The survivors tell countless stories and testimonies.
A Kataeb fighter asked a Palestinian nurse for his name, and he replied: "Elias."
The fighter said, "Palestinian, and named Elias too!"
He shot him, leading to his martyrdom. ("The Siege of Tal El Zaatar: Testimonies and Analysis" by Ali Hussein Khalaf, 1976.)
I ascend from the vegetable boxes,
And the strength of things, I ascend,
I belong to my first sky and to the poor in all alleys,
They chant:
We are steadfast,
And steadfast,
And steadfast."
On April 13, 1975, an assassination attempt targeted Pierre Gemayel, the leader of the fascist Christian Kataeb Party. Gemayel accused Palestinians of being behind it. On the same day and in the same area, the Kataeb Party targeted a bus in Ain El-Rummaneh heading to the Tal El Zaatar camp, opening fire on its passengers killing 27 people. This would be the start of 15 years of bloodshed in Lebanon after the right-wing parties in Lebanon announced their war on Palestinian presence and the Lebanese parties allied with them.
The siege on the camp began in January of 1976. On June 17th, fascist forces began their attack on Tal El Zaatar. More than 8,000 bombs fell on the camp that day. Electricity, water, and roads were cut off. Hundreds of civilians were martyred or injured. On August 12th, a large attack started following Syria's entry. All kinds of atrocities were carried out, with indiscriminate killing of women, children, and elderly. Women were raped, and pregnant mothers had their bellies cut.
The survivors tell countless stories and testimonies.
A Kataeb fighter asked a Palestinian nurse for his name, and he replied: "Elias."
The fighter said, "Palestinian, and named Elias too!"
He shot him, leading to his martyrdom. ("The Siege of Tal El Zaatar: Testimonies and Analysis" by Ali Hussein Khalaf, 1976.)
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"Venture into your blood, prepared for your dispersal,
And venture into my blood, united in your siege,
There's no time for exile..."
Zionism is an ideology. It can come by white supremacist foreigners, of people of color with a superiority complex, and sometimes, at the hands of your own people divided by colonial borders, driven by colonial mindsets. In any case, the crimson innocent blood spilled was the same. The losses were large, but to portray the people of the camp as victims waiting to be slaughtered is unfair to their memory. The camp fought with all might against the fascist forces. The resilience and fight for life were the same.
Um Nabil, 45, mother of ten:
"I was preparing bread for the fighters with a group of women from the camp when I learned of the martyrdom of my son Kayed, 22 years old. I went to the place where his body lay, kissed him, left him, and returned without telling his brothers so as not to shatter their determination.
"A week later, I learned and endured the martyrdom of my son Fares, 25 years old. The heart of a mother couldn't bear more. I endured in silence because I was a role model for the mothers of martyrs. My son Nabil left through the mountain path. Until this day, I haven't heard anything about him.
"They stormed the camp while my son Khaled (14) and I were inside. They separated the men and took the girls, conducting a humiliating search of the women. A patrol came by and asked me where I got a child like him, as he was fair-haired with green eyes while I was dark-skinned. They said, 'It's a shame for Palestinians to have someone like him.'
I answered them defiantly, with a loud voice, 'He is Palestinian, he is my son, and the son of Palestine.'
"As soon as I finished speaking, they fired on him. I didn't flinch; I stood my ground. They ordered me to step on him, but I refused and told them I know this ending, and this is our destiny. We will never kneel, as long as we still have a baby who needs to be nursed."
(From "Beirut Beirut", Sana Allah Ibrahim - 1984.)
And venture into my blood, united in your siege,
There's no time for exile..."
Zionism is an ideology. It can come by white supremacist foreigners, of people of color with a superiority complex, and sometimes, at the hands of your own people divided by colonial borders, driven by colonial mindsets. In any case, the crimson innocent blood spilled was the same. The losses were large, but to portray the people of the camp as victims waiting to be slaughtered is unfair to their memory. The camp fought with all might against the fascist forces. The resilience and fight for life were the same.
Um Nabil, 45, mother of ten:
"I was preparing bread for the fighters with a group of women from the camp when I learned of the martyrdom of my son Kayed, 22 years old. I went to the place where his body lay, kissed him, left him, and returned without telling his brothers so as not to shatter their determination.
"A week later, I learned and endured the martyrdom of my son Fares, 25 years old. The heart of a mother couldn't bear more. I endured in silence because I was a role model for the mothers of martyrs. My son Nabil left through the mountain path. Until this day, I haven't heard anything about him.
"They stormed the camp while my son Khaled (14) and I were inside. They separated the men and took the girls, conducting a humiliating search of the women. A patrol came by and asked me where I got a child like him, as he was fair-haired with green eyes while I was dark-skinned. They said, 'It's a shame for Palestinians to have someone like him.'
I answered them defiantly, with a loud voice, 'He is Palestinian, he is my son, and the son of Palestine.'
"As soon as I finished speaking, they fired on him. I didn't flinch; I stood my ground. They ordered me to step on him, but I refused and told them I know this ending, and this is our destiny. We will never kneel, as long as we still have a baby who needs to be nursed."
(From "Beirut Beirut", Sana Allah Ibrahim - 1984.)
"The camp was Ahmad's body,
Damascus was Ahmad's eyelids,
Hijaz was Ahmad's shadows,
The siege became Ahmad's passage over the hearts of millions,
The captives [of Ahmad].
The siege became Ahmad's attack,
And the sea, his final bullet!"
After the invasion, the camp was levelled to the ground. Perhaps to feign that it was never even there.
It is estimated that over 3,000 people were murdered. Reports suggest that 2,200 of them were murdered on August 12th alone. There is an unknown number of missing people and people who were buried under the rubble. It's been 47 years. No one was ever held accountable for the Tal El-Zaatar Massacre. Justice was never brought. Had there not been survivors to tell their stories, perhaps it would have never been remembered.
After those who committed the crime, and the ones who stood and watched realized that all the attempts made to "justify" the bloodshed and evade accountability were vain, they sought to erase the memory of a camp of refugees who fought with its men, women, and children yet another Nakba.
We have a duty to bring these stories to light. We must remember. Otherwise, we are complicit in the same crime despite the time that has passed.
Damascus was Ahmad's eyelids,
Hijaz was Ahmad's shadows,
The siege became Ahmad's passage over the hearts of millions,
The captives [of Ahmad].
The siege became Ahmad's attack,
And the sea, his final bullet!"
After the invasion, the camp was levelled to the ground. Perhaps to feign that it was never even there.
It is estimated that over 3,000 people were murdered. Reports suggest that 2,200 of them were murdered on August 12th alone. There is an unknown number of missing people and people who were buried under the rubble. It's been 47 years. No one was ever held accountable for the Tal El-Zaatar Massacre. Justice was never brought. Had there not been survivors to tell their stories, perhaps it would have never been remembered.
After those who committed the crime, and the ones who stood and watched realized that all the attempts made to "justify" the bloodshed and evade accountability were vain, they sought to erase the memory of a camp of refugees who fought with its men, women, and children yet another Nakba.
We have a duty to bring these stories to light. We must remember. Otherwise, we are complicit in the same crime despite the time that has passed.
"I am Ahmad the Arab, let the siege come,
My body is the ramparts, so let the siege come,
And I am the boundaries of fire, so let the siege come,
And I am besieging you,
I am besieging you,
And my chest is the door to all people, so let the siege come,"
We must never forget our history. We must never forget the suffering of our people and the series of events that led us to where we are today.
Knowledge is part of our fight for liberation. It is as essential a pillar as armed struggle. Ahmed Al-Jabari said, "A rifle that is not educated kills, but does not liberate." George Habash said, "The politically unconscious fighter is like pointing the barrel of a gun to his chest." What knowledge is more important to liberation than the history of your own people?
Our path to liberation comes through knowledge, the knowledge of our own struggle first, through the history of our ancestors, our elders. Perhaps we can never erase—or ease—the pain our people endured. We can never make it up to the lives that were lost. Sometimes, I wonder if liberation will avenge them. But if we can't undo the past, and if we can't save those who are already gone, we must honor their memory. We must never forget. We must pass it to our children, generation after generation. We must remember. And so today, we remember.
"O country, armed within my blood,
Resist!
Now, I complete my song in you,
And delve into your siege,
And now, I complete my questions in you,
And birth from your dust.
Venture into my heart, and you'll find my people,
Nations in your explosion."
My body is the ramparts, so let the siege come,
And I am the boundaries of fire, so let the siege come,
And I am besieging you,
I am besieging you,
And my chest is the door to all people, so let the siege come,"
We must never forget our history. We must never forget the suffering of our people and the series of events that led us to where we are today.
Knowledge is part of our fight for liberation. It is as essential a pillar as armed struggle. Ahmed Al-Jabari said, "A rifle that is not educated kills, but does not liberate." George Habash said, "The politically unconscious fighter is like pointing the barrel of a gun to his chest." What knowledge is more important to liberation than the history of your own people?
Our path to liberation comes through knowledge, the knowledge of our own struggle first, through the history of our ancestors, our elders. Perhaps we can never erase—or ease—the pain our people endured. We can never make it up to the lives that were lost. Sometimes, I wonder if liberation will avenge them. But if we can't undo the past, and if we can't save those who are already gone, we must honor their memory. We must never forget. We must pass it to our children, generation after generation. We must remember. And so today, we remember.
"O country, armed within my blood,
Resist!
Now, I complete my song in you,
And delve into your siege,
And now, I complete my questions in you,
And birth from your dust.
Venture into my heart, and you'll find my people,
Nations in your explosion."
⚫️ Saraya Al-Quds:
—
In cooperation with Al-Qassam Brigades, we destroyed a zionist tank of the type Merkava-4 Baz using a highly explosive Thaqib [piercing] directional bomb at the Abu Ayyash junction in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood west of Rafah city.
Al-Aqsa Flood
—
In cooperation with Al-Qassam Brigades, we destroyed a zionist tank of the type Merkava-4 Baz using a highly explosive Thaqib [piercing] directional bomb at the Abu Ayyash junction in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood west of Rafah city.
Al-Aqsa Flood
🟢 Martyr Izz El-Din Al-Qassam Brigades:
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Al-Qassam Brigades strike the enemy forces that penetrated northeast of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip with mortar shells.
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Al-Qassam Brigades strike the enemy forces that penetrated northeast of Khan Younis city in the southern Gaza Strip with mortar shells.
🟡 Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades:
—
We bombarded a gathering of zionist soldiers and vehicles in the incursion axis in the Al-Zana area, east of Khan Younis, with a barrage of mortar shells.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
—
We bombarded a gathering of zionist soldiers and vehicles in the incursion axis in the Al-Zana area, east of Khan Younis, with a barrage of mortar shells.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
⚪️ Mujahideen Brigades:
—
Our fighters targeted the "southern Gaza envelope" with two 107mm missiles.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
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Our fighters targeted the "southern Gaza envelope" with two 107mm missiles.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
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🟡🟢 Hezbollah:
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Scenes from the operation of the Islamic Resistance targeting of technical and espionage equipment at the Samaqa and Ramia sites of the “israeli” enemy army.
—
Notes:
0:16 - Ramia Site 9-8-2024
0:21 - A shader to camouflage a monitoring and surveillance system.
0:40 - Samaqa Site 27-7-2024
—
Scenes from the operation of the Islamic Resistance targeting of technical and espionage equipment at the Samaqa and Ramia sites of the “israeli” enemy army.
—
Notes:
0:16 - Ramia Site 9-8-2024
0:21 - A shader to camouflage a monitoring and surveillance system.
0:40 - Samaqa Site 27-7-2024
🟡 Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades:
—
We targeted a zionist military vehicle with an RPG-85 in the axis of advancement in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
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We targeted a zionist military vehicle with an RPG-85 in the axis of advancement in the Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah city, southern Gaza Strip.
Al-Aqsa Flood.
🟢 Hamas Political Bureau member Izzat Al-Rishq:
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The acknowledgment by Gallant, the zionist Minister of War, that "'israel' is the reason for the delay in reaching an agreement on the release of the captives, and that talk of an absolute victory is pure nonsense," confirms what we have always said: Netanyahu lies to the world and to the families of the captives, cares nothing for their lives, and does not want to reach an agreement. All he cares about is continuing and expanding the war.
All the flexibility and positivity Hamas has shown by agreeing to what was stated in Biden’s statement and the UN Security Council’s resolution to facilitate reaching an agreement were met with Netanyahu's intransigence and evasion of the obligations to reach a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal.
The world must pressure Netanyahu and his government to stop the aggression and the war of genocide, and to reach a prisoner exchange deal, as the victory Netanyahu seeks is an illusion and a mirage.
—
The acknowledgment by Gallant, the zionist Minister of War, that "'israel' is the reason for the delay in reaching an agreement on the release of the captives, and that talk of an absolute victory is pure nonsense," confirms what we have always said: Netanyahu lies to the world and to the families of the captives, cares nothing for their lives, and does not want to reach an agreement. All he cares about is continuing and expanding the war.
All the flexibility and positivity Hamas has shown by agreeing to what was stated in Biden’s statement and the UN Security Council’s resolution to facilitate reaching an agreement were met with Netanyahu's intransigence and evasion of the obligations to reach a ceasefire agreement and a prisoner exchange deal.
The world must pressure Netanyahu and his government to stop the aggression and the war of genocide, and to reach a prisoner exchange deal, as the victory Netanyahu seeks is an illusion and a mirage.
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Resistance News Network Backup
"'Israel' is the reason for the delay of the deal to return the captives, and talk about 'absolute victory' is nonsense."
These were the words of zionist Minister of War Yoav Gallant today in an unprecedented admission.
Gallant added, "It is our moral…
These were the words of zionist Minister of War Yoav Gallant today in an unprecedented admission.
Gallant added, "It is our moral…
⚫️ Saraya Al-Quds - West Bank:
—
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you."
This is the Truth of Allah Almighty.
Our heroic fighters from the Tulkarem Brigade, at 5:00 PM today, Monday, August 12, 2024, carried out a blessed and heroic operation, targeting some military points and areas of soldier deployment at the "Al-Taybeh crossing", in coordination with the brothers in blood and arms from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades - "Rapid Response Groups". During the attack, our men rained the Al-Taybeh crossing with heavy barrages of bullets, achieving direct hits by the grace of Allah.
This operation comes as part of:
The battle of Al-Aqsa Flood and in response to the ongoing crimes of the occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip, the most heinous being the "Fajr Massacre." It also serves as an initial response to the incitement by the extremist zionist government ministers against our camps in the beloved West Bank.
We dedicate this operation to the souls of our martyrs and affirm the following:
First: The continued incitement against the West Bank camps and any foolish acts committed by your defeated army will not bring safety to them or their cowardly settlers. We will fulfill our duty to defend our people and will continue fighting until we cleanse this land of zionist filth.
Second: Our fighters are prepared to defend our people, and what the enemy has seen of our might in the shadow of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle is just a glimpse of the hell awaiting them.
We bless the actions of our heroic men and salute their steadfastness. "If you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet."
Our fight continues, and our weapons are drawn in all arenas.
Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood.
Saraya Al-Quds – West Bank
Military Media
8th Safar 1446 Hijri
Monday, 12th August 2024 AD
—
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you."
This is the Truth of Allah Almighty.
Our heroic fighters from the Tulkarem Brigade, at 5:00 PM today, Monday, August 12, 2024, carried out a blessed and heroic operation, targeting some military points and areas of soldier deployment at the "Al-Taybeh crossing", in coordination with the brothers in blood and arms from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades - "Rapid Response Groups". During the attack, our men rained the Al-Taybeh crossing with heavy barrages of bullets, achieving direct hits by the grace of Allah.
This operation comes as part of:
The battle of Al-Aqsa Flood and in response to the ongoing crimes of the occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip, the most heinous being the "Fajr Massacre." It also serves as an initial response to the incitement by the extremist zionist government ministers against our camps in the beloved West Bank.
We dedicate this operation to the souls of our martyrs and affirm the following:
First: The continued incitement against the West Bank camps and any foolish acts committed by your defeated army will not bring safety to them or their cowardly settlers. We will fulfill our duty to defend our people and will continue fighting until we cleanse this land of zionist filth.
Second: Our fighters are prepared to defend our people, and what the enemy has seen of our might in the shadow of the Al-Aqsa Flood battle is just a glimpse of the hell awaiting them.
We bless the actions of our heroic men and salute their steadfastness. "If you support Allah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet."
Our fight continues, and our weapons are drawn in all arenas.
Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood.
Saraya Al-Quds – West Bank
Military Media
8th Safar 1446 Hijri
Monday, 12th August 2024 AD
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Resistance News Network Backup
🟡⚫️ Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades - Tulkarem Brigade (Rapid Response Groups) and Saraya Al-Quds - Tulkarem Camp Brigade
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and…
—
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
"Fight them; Allah will punish them by your hands and will disgrace them and…
1. "We will not raise the white flags! We will not raise anything except the Palestinian flag to protect the [refugee] camps!
2. The "evil man" asks, "Are you Muslim or Christian?"
The "good man" replies, "I am hungry."
3. A sign reads, "Tal Al-Zaatar Camp." Children sing a famous Palestinian song, changing the lyrics, "We don't want flour, or sardines. We want bombs.
The rulers are fools. The fools of whom? The Americans. Henry Kissinger; he walks and struts. And the right-wingers. Always submissive.
We are the hard-working ones. Always steadfast. Let Geneva fall. Stay clean."
4. "The chicken has a home. The chicken's home is called a coop. The rabbit has a home. The rabbit's home is called a hutch. The horse has a home. The horse's home is called a stable. The Phalanges (Kataeb) who slaughtered our children in the refugee camps have a home. Their home is called the "House of the Phalanges." America which helps "israel" has a home. Its home is called the "White House."
The Palestinian lives in refugee camps and does not have a home. The Palestinian home is called Bayt al-Maqdis (the sacred home, Al-Quds). How can a Palestinian return home? With awareness..and…and..."
#NajisAugust
2. The "evil man" asks, "Are you Muslim or Christian?"
The "good man" replies, "I am hungry."
3. A sign reads, "Tal Al-Zaatar Camp." Children sing a famous Palestinian song, changing the lyrics, "We don't want flour, or sardines. We want bombs.
The rulers are fools. The fools of whom? The Americans. Henry Kissinger; he walks and struts. And the right-wingers. Always submissive.
We are the hard-working ones. Always steadfast. Let Geneva fall. Stay clean."
4. "The chicken has a home. The chicken's home is called a coop. The rabbit has a home. The rabbit's home is called a hutch. The horse has a home. The horse's home is called a stable. The Phalanges (Kataeb) who slaughtered our children in the refugee camps have a home. Their home is called the "House of the Phalanges." America which helps "israel" has a home. Its home is called the "White House."
The Palestinian lives in refugee camps and does not have a home. The Palestinian home is called Bayt al-Maqdis (the sacred home, Al-Quds). How can a Palestinian return home? With awareness..and…and..."
#NajisAugust