During our trip, we had the opportunity to visit a refugee camp specifically made for children: Aida Refugee Camp. This camp is located near the wall Israel built to separate Israeli territory from Palestinian territory, and is often the at the center of Israeli shootings and bombs. On the right, an empty tear gas bottle remained on the street. Refugees formed the habit of immediately seeking shelter from these tear gas bottles thrown by Israeli soldiers, although there is only so many times one can seek shelter before health problems start taking effect. The key at the entrance of the camp (left) symbolizes the Palestinian’s Right of Return.

Addameer provides legal services for detained Palestinians. Speaking up against Israel, even in schools, is a crime. If students are caught creating activist groups in schools, they are taken from their homes and arrested in front of their family members. This is an example of punishment for peaceful protest.

Because of their helpful services towards Palestinians, Israel labeled Addameer a terrorist organization

Palestinians are activists, but not necessarily by choice. When you are forced out of your home and everything you love is taken away from you, you have no choice but to become an activist.

Given to us by Addameer, these books contain small descriptions of inhumane tactics used on Palestinians at the prisons.

Israel controls Palestine’s water supply, electricity, housing supply, and travel with this wall. Palestinians depict their everyday tragedies and expressions on this wall.

The genocide began in 1948 when Israel was officially named a country. With country status, Israel has the ability to create laws, policies, and regulations of the land without considering the lives of Palestinians. Israel can “negotiate” with Palestine, but how effective can a negotiation between a world-recognized country and a war-torn neglected territory actually be?

The similarities between how Native and Black Americans were/still are treated the United States with how Palestinians are treated by Israel are hard to ignore. Israel uses tactics taught by the United States, and vice versa. Because of the allyship between the United States and Israel, anyone not in favor of an Israeli state is labeled as a terrorist by the United States.

Ahed Tamimi—Palestinian activist who is constantly threatened, harassed, and detained by the Israeli government.

A billion-dollar army partially funded by U.S. tax dollars, against a territory that is practically in pieces trying to fight for liberation.

But we should “look at both sides,” right?

After an eye-opening trip, I began to make my way back to the United States.

To my surprise, the Tel-Aviv airport made the leaving process more difficult than the entering process.

To begin, they labeled all passports with a number beginning from 1 to 6*— the lowest level of “threat” labeled as 1, and the highest level of “threat” labeled as 6*.

All Muslims, Palestinians, and Arabic-named people were labeled as a 6 and told to stand in a separate line from everyone else.

Where can I put on my resume that not only was I a 6, I also had an asterisks next to my 6, labeling me as the highest possible threat.

Despite arriving to the airport 12 hours early, we still were late for our flight. For every “6” let into security, an entire line of non-sixers was let through. It did not matter that I had a U.S. passport— my name trumped any privilege I might have had as an American citizen.

My flight boarded at 8:40PM. By the time Noor (my friend pictured above) and I were allowed into the first security point—sixers had two security points—it was 10:15PM. The entire plane already boarded and was waiting for us, but we were told to be appreciative of the Israeli guards calling our captain and telling him to wait for us.

After Noor and I got through regular security, we were told to go to the back for another security line that was only for those labeled as a 6.

Every single item we owned—including hair ties, nail polish, lip gloss, etc.— was scanned and swabbed. Some people in this line were told to go through a third security measure where they were strip searched. All this was happening while our flight was waiting for us.

After we were finally released at 10:45PM, we were told to “better make our flight.” We sprinted across the Tel-Aviv airport to our gate and were the last ones to arrive on the plane, regardless of us arriving 12 hours early.

With this experience, my spring break trip to Palestine concluded and I was on the way home to the United States.

In instances of injustice, there is always an oppressor, and there is always the oppressed. To disregard this and to say otherwise to is to be complicit and part of the problem.

Here, Israel is the clear oppressor, and Palestine is clearly the oppressed. My spring break trip to Palestine taught me how to become a better ally for Palestine, even though I am still learning how this allyship may look while living in a country that has taken sides with the oppressor. I do not have to have a solution, other than to keep fighting for Palestinian liberation in ways that I can. This includes sharing my experience in Palestine, showing up to protests, and educating those that refuse to acknowledge Israeli colonialism. Even if I am not Palestinian, I can still manifest. I know that from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.