No matter how much up to date we are, Christmas remains the epitome of some (more or less) enjoyable ‘warm’ family-time.
Even though I know that wars, dictatorships, poverty don’t take days off; it’s hard to imagine that many people won’t have anything to celebrate. To me, it’s always a holiday. Despite reading the news, my idea of Christmas is barely affected by those articles. The last days of the year are loud talks, nougat on a red tablecloth, and some horrible decorations my grandma always put on the table.
I am writing about Christmas10 days later. It might not be a trending topic anymore, but still. I am always late, after all. The delay adds a bit of autobiographical character to the post. The new year begins with evidence of the same old flaws.
That said, I don’t consider myself up to date on what’s going on on this planet. What I know is the result of the people I met. It’s particularly true with Palestine.
As I tried to express in another post, I found out that human rights violations hit me more around a holiday. I feel more sad, ashamed for celebrating, and somehow guilty for having my loved ones around.
When I saw this picture I felt as if I were living in a Christmas ball, isolated from the rest of the world.
Ramallah, or better to say its giant Christmas tree is one of the elements. The main character is a young boy, Ali, who got killed in a village next to Ramallah by Israeli soldiers on 4th December. He took part in a protest against the settler occupation. It must be said that, regardless of what you think about the 70-year-long-conflict, even the UN had stated that Israel’s settlements are a “violation of International Law” (Resolution 2334, 2016). In the area of al-Mughayyir, there were protests against the establishment of Adei Ad settler outpost every Fridays. It means stealing someone else’s land once again. According to a UN Case study of 2013, Adei Ad outpost had been established in 1998 without the official Israeli authorisation. But even in this case, as the Secretary-General reported, “Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation to maintain public order and ensure that Palestinian civilians are safeguarded against all acts or threat of violence” including “settler violence”. A more recent article on the Israeli newspaper Haaretz had confirmed the protests and the violence from the settlers.
I am still not sure about Ali’s age. Some say 13, others 14, or almost 15. However, it won’t change anything. Even the fact that Ali’s family (Muslim) doesn’t celebrate Christmas does not change the grief of seeing your child shot dead.
The funeral started right in front of Ramallah Christmas tree towards al-Mughayyir. His body wrapped in the Palestinian flag, a kufiyah around his head along with that tree in the background -to me- make this murder even bitterer.
A couple of day after Christmas I experience the same Christmas-ball feeling. I was watching a video about a protest against a house-demolition in southern Hebron. Some people had been standing in front of their home, trying to stop the occupation forces. The Israeli soldiers had surrounded the building with a Bulldozer in a short distance. While a young Palestinian had been shouting at the soldiers, they were standing in front of him with a mask, a helmet, and a weapon. On the rooftop of the house, women and children had been doing their part. Around them, many people had gathered to support the owners of the house. After throwing sound grenades and tear gas, the Israeli left.
Another video testifies the demolition of the house .
Are you able to think how losing your home feels like?
Or how your home can’t be a safe place?
There are hundreds of cases like this in Palestine. According to the UN humanitarian affairs office (UNOCHA), there are, on average, 65 demolitions or confiscations per month in the West Bank. In August 2020 alone 225 people were displaced.
“Of specific concern is the Israeli authorities’ increased use of an expedited procedure (Order 1797) for the removal of structures as soon as 96 hours after delivering a notice, largely preventing owners from being heard before a judicial body.
When the Israeli authorities demolish, or force people to demolish, homes and sources of livelihood, they typically cite a lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which are almost impossible for Palestinians to obtain, due to the restrictive and discriminatory planning regime, and leaves them no venues for authorised construction.” (UNOCHA, September 2020)
Your life can change in 4 days: from having a house to nothing. What’s more, beyond private houses, they target buildings for humanitarian aid as well as water assets. In such a case, those who have already nothing go from bad to worse.
Pics:
More on Resolution 2334: www.un.org/press/en/2016/sc12657.doc.htm
More on al-Mughayyir occupation: www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-196674/
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