the year were I was born

I was born in the year 1987, which also marks the beginning of the Palestinian First Intifada against the occupation. Frequently, my mom talks about curfews, tear gas, and the dozens of martyrs shot by the IDF. She also recounts the sudden house raids, where residents were taken and held captive. That year was a pivotal moment of resistance and a significant milestone in the Palestinian struggle against oppression.

For me, remembering this makes me realize that I was born to be a fighter. Being born in this year means being deeply rooted in my faith that, as a Palestinian, resistance is not a choice—it is an obligation. It is my duty to stand against the brutality of the occupation and to carry forward the spirit of resilience for future generations.

Our struggle did not begin in 1987, or even in 1948; it dates back to the Balfour Declaration, where a promise was made by Britain to grant another nation a land over which they had no rightful authority. The Balfour Declaration of 1917, written by British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, declared support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, disregarding the rights of its native population. The British Mandate was a form of colonization that systematically transferred military resources to Israeli settlers, enabling them to terrorize Palestinian farmers and families. British policies during the mandate period favored Zionist immigration and economic growth while suppressing Palestinian resistance. Historical maps from the Ottoman Empire and earlier periods consistently depict Palestine as a recognized region with its own identity.

It is a shame to erase Palestine from the map today and claim it as the land of another people—allegedly chosen by God to build their great empire. The idea that any group is “chosen” to inhabit this land is rooted in discrimination. Scholars have argued that this notion misinterprets religious texts and ignores the historical coexistence of diverse communities in the region.

I might be truly sad now, given the current genocide happening in my home country. But the truth is, this reflects decades of systematic theft of Palestinian lands. Palestinians once welcomed Jewish refugees with shelter and safety when the world exiled and persecuted them. Yet, in return, Palestinian villages were demolished, communities shattered, and lives uprooted.

With the fact that I was born in 1987 comes another truth—that I was born to witness a brutal occupation that kills my nation. Taking into consideration what has been happening for decades, it is an obligation to share and talk about Palestine and to raise our voices to stop the current genocide in Gaza, which has been going on for more than 1 year and 3 months.

Daily writing prompt

Share what you know about the year you were born.

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