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Kellum Tate-Jones's avatar

I'm sitting on the side of a road in an industrial area of Santa Clara, California, listening to the finches and juncos and crows in the trees lining the road as I read this and cry. These snapshots feel as real to me as the smell of diesel from the buses and the cool breeze and the chatter of the birds. Across the street from me is a lemon tree, and that tree ties me across the ocean to the lost lemon trees in Gaza. It seems loss and hope and grief of this depth has a gravitational pull, like a star, like the young girl and her friends playing in the street and pulling the adults out to watch a fragile future. I don't know what to say but that we are writing and fighting and praying for you and your homeland and your people, Mohammed. Thank you so sincerely for sharing and pulling our hearts into a tighter web with yours.

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Jess Kaz's avatar

I love that ‘pulling out hearts into a tighter web with yours’❤️

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Val D. Phillips's avatar

Mohammed, thank you so much for this. These are the stories we need to hear, heartbreaking though they are. Please keep taking these snapshots and posting them. Please. Everyone's story matters.

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Mawarni Hassan's avatar

Lost for words. Just tears behind my eyes waiting to fall as my heart contracts with every word I read. I only wish for rezki to support your writing. Please don't stop making your life and that of Gazans real for us watching from across the world. May He make each day better than the one before. May peace come to Gaza soon.

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Anne Settanni's avatar

My heart bursts with love for each one of these brave Palestinians. I am so sorry for their immense losses and I marvel at their resilient ability to find hope and solace in the smallest things. These people are Gods angels on earth .💗

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Kathy Osterloh's avatar

With all of the awfulness you have all been through, your strength and honesty touch my soul. I can never begin to imagine, but I pray. For peace, for food/aid to come for all of you. My heart breaks when our president talks of taking over Gaza. I apologize for his ignorance and arrogance. You should be allowed to stay and rebuild YOUR homes, schools and fields/businesses.

Many blessings to you and your beautiful country.

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J C's avatar

This just breaks my heart. ❤️

I'm so sorry that my government is inhabited by monsters. I did not vote for either monster.

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Lindsay's avatar

This made me properly cry for the first time in months, beautiful and so sad at the same time.

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Jess Kaz's avatar

Thank you Mohammed from the bottom and top and all the sides of my aching heart. These are beautiful portraits of Palestinian resilience and hope. Please keep up this holy work of testimony. In’shallah

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reading's avatar

Thank you for the insights. I love every word of your last few paragraphs. The whole writing is like a book in itself. Grief and resilience. Both painful and hope-giving.

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Dakota's avatar

Thank you for sharing every single one of their stories

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𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗟 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲's avatar

Made me cry!!! I am sharing with my local MPs, LBC Radio, the BBC, Al Jazeera and Haaretz!

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M Laubscher's avatar

More than pictures, your intimate writing moments take us into the hearts of Palestinians. Thank you, Mohammed. May we find a peaceful way to ensure your future in Palestine.

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LubnaC's avatar

JazakAllahKhair (may Allah SWT reward you goodness) for sharing such beautiful peoples stories. They are heart touching. InShaAllah, no one can defeat Palestinians.

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𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗢𝗡 𝗣𝗔𝗨𝗟 𝗔𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲's avatar

It's NOT WAR... IT'S A BRUTAL GENOCIDAL SECOND HOLOCAUST

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Anderson II's avatar

Thank you for your work. This couldn't have been easy to collect or to put together. But it will be remembered. As will the dead and the struggles of the living. May we see peace in our lifetime. Prayers and support from New York. 🙏🏽

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Edwin Gordon Thomasson's avatar

Your ending says it all with heartbreaking clarity: "This is what war is about. And this is what resilience looks like."

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