I tried very hard to imagine what kind of miserable circumstances the Gazans were living during the war, but I failed every time, not because my imagination is limited, not at all! My imagination was there to help me whenever I needed it, but because what happened in Gaza was simply ‘unbelievable’! I still can’t imagine life in Gaza! Even when my friend Nasser tells me that his family had to evacuate their own house for 20 days! He lives in Tal Al-Hawa, a neighborhood which was violently bombarded many times and invaded by Israeli tanks over and over again. “The worst feeling was in the first moments when we were collecting our precious things from the house and leaving it, we didn’t know if we will see it again or not but we were trying not to forget the memories we had in it.” Nasser is just like thousands of Gazans who fled their own houses seeking safety; maybe he was luckier than others, as his house was still standing when he came back again with his family. But nearly 90,000 Palestinians have lost their homes due to the war and are struggling to find shelter now. Israeli tanks did not only attack houses and residential buildings it had also completely destroyed the Palestinian Red crescent center building in Tal Al-Hawa, leaving only rubble and dust for civilians as a memorial  to remember their houses.

However, luck wasn’t on Nasser’s side in other occasions; his university (Islamic University of Gaza) was attacked by Israeli military as it claims the university was used by Hamas to develop and store weapons, the attack had destroyed the Science and Engineering buildings and damaged several others. Maybe I don’t need to say that the right 2 education is often denied and ignored by Israeli military as this right is violated on daily basis by Israeli soldiers, but deep down myself I know Nasser is just like all other Palestinian students who become more determined and stubborn to graduate and get their degrees, even if it –for one second- seemed unapproachable for him!

The students are, Deema Amereh, Ronza Al-Madbouh, Manar Shomali, Wala’ Bakri,Samar Sabat, Vivian Ghabor, Razan Wazwaz

Get to know the students through reading a personal bio about each one of them!

Deema Amereh:

“My name is Deema Amerah. I am a senior student majoring in English Literature with a minor in business admnistrartion, I live in Eastern Jerusalem, I decided to join JHR since we as Palestinian youth, have the ability and the capacity to change; by raising our voices about the abuses and the suffering we daily face in Palestine because of the occupation . I am, as a journalist, looking forward to shed light on these abuses to the world. In addition to that, I would like to work on some social issues and spread the awareness in order to empower the youth and broaden the truth”

Ronza Al-Madbouh

“My name is Ronza Al-Madbouh. I am a forth year student studying English Language and Literature at Bethlehem University. I live in Bethlehem, Palestine. I have decided to join BU JHR because I believe that the voice of the Palestinians needs to reach the international community in addition to the national community, and to raise the awareness of the Palestinian youth of their human rights which are protected in the international and human rights laws. I hope that along with BU JHR members efforts, the international community will hear the violations committed against the human rights of Palestinians by the Israeli occupation”.

Manar Shomali

“My name is Manar Shomaly. I’m a second year student at Bethlehem University and I study English Literature. I like languages especially the French language and my dream is to travel around the world as I like to know new places and cultures. I joined the JHR to help increase the awarness about Human Rights violations because I believe that every human being has the right to live in secure and with dignity in life”

Wala’ Bakri

“My name is Wala’ Al Bakri. I am a palestinian girl who has lots of dreams to achieve. I am a second year student. I major in English Literature with a minor in French in Bethlehem University. I’m so active at university. I joined JHR group to be able to make a change in my community and to let people know about their human rights especially as palestinians who live under Israeli occupation”

Samar Sabat

“I’m Samar Sabat, and I have 21 years old. I”m a senior student at Bethlehem University, majoring in English Literature with minor French. I enjoy reading and writing poetry, and I have other hobbies, like languages and drawing. I joined the JHR cause I feel it’s our mission as the youth, not just to bring awareness to human rights’ abuses, but to try to change realities together through writing“

Razan Wazwaz

hey my name is Razan, a junior studying English Literature and translation, I enjoy traveling and meeting new people from all over very much, I love to write speacillay about  human rights violations in Palestine and Jerusalem, I feel like its my duty to fight for Palestinian Jerusalemites to get their voice heard because they are being stereotyped, and they suffer from desrimnation living under Israeli rule! I hope by joining JHR I will be able to achieve that!”

 The members of this chapter  will use their skills to write about these violations, as well as raising awareness about human rights in the local communities of Palestine through different activities, in order to help Palestinians know more about their rights.