It has been my dream to visit Palestine for 10 years, and finally, I am here.
Palestine doesn't have its own airport or control over its own borders because of the Israeli illegal occupation of the land so I, with a heavy heart, flew into Tel Aviv.
On the British government travel advice page, people flying into Israel are warned that their personal email and social media accounts may be accessed by Israeli authorities as a condition of entry. Any evidence of intention to visit Palestine is mostly likely to result in hours of questioning or immediate removal - first flight home and banned from Israel. Having a Muslim name or if you have visited other Arab countries are also likely to lead to refusal of entry. 'Security' is the reason given for such blantant racism.
So because of my birthplace, name and a little luck, I was paid little attention to and passed through immigration without problem.
A family I met in Tunisia collected me from the airport and I spent my first days with them in their home in Ramallah. Whilst I would like to publicly thank everyone here who has shown me great kindness, and tell their stories, at this stage I am apprehensive to do so in case of any repercussions for them by the Israeli authorities.
Ramallah is a very cosmopolitan city, with cafes, bars and restaurants and a wealth of internationals who work, volunteer or visit. However, the apartheid wall which separates Israel from Palestine and is illegal under international law, is a cruel reminder that this is anything but a normal city for its inhabitants.
Crossing checkpoints can take hours and you never know how long Israeli soldiers will make you wait or why. I've heard countless stories of women giving birth at checkpoints and others dying there, unable to pass even by ambulance.
Now I'm living in a refugee camp in Bethlehem supporting an artist who has a disability. The camp has had soldiers raiding homes in the night twice since I arrived 2 days ago. This is life for Palestine's children. Yesterday we heard about an Arab bus driver who was beaten and hung by Israeli settlers, he was 32 years old and a father. The news reported this as suicide.
Today, 4 Israelis have been killed in Jerusalem and it has been reported as 'the most deadly terror attack in 6 years.'
This year over 2000 Palestinians, including women, children and the elderly have been killed by the Israeli forces and settlers. The violence committed against Palestinians happens every second they breathe with every house demolition, every soldier occupying heir land, every checkpoint, every blocking of food and medical supplies and every tear gas canister and bullet fired.
The prime minister Netanyahu has already promised a heavy handed response, which we know means the collective punishment of all Palestinians.
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