Palestinian Stories website aims to highlight the human experiences of Palestinians during times of “peace” and war, by collecting narratives told by the Palestinians themselves. The idea is inspired by the personal blog I created in 2020, titled “Sowar, Raad, Ward” (Pictures, Thunder, Flowers), in which I documented what I recall of my family’s life in Jerusalem over four generations. I decided to expand the scope of the initiative after reading the stories and texts Palestinians in Gaza were writing about their daily life sufferings amid the war waged by the Israeli occupation on Gaza after October 7, 2023. The ongoing pain continues as I am writing these lines without any sign of hope for ending this war soon. I have carefully compiled these stories and texts and shared them in parts on my “Facebook” page. I bear a strong belief in mind that such an archive could one day serve a greater purpose. Who knows! It might awaken the consciences of those who have turned their backs to the most shocking genocide in the 21st century with all its devastating humanitarian consequences at all levels.
Though the “Palestinian Stories” website is a newly born initiative primarily centered on Palestinian narratives, however, this platform embraces human experiences that transcend the boundaries of geography, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sect, belief, and ideology. Humanity, in all its forms, remains the most important value. Each human is a story by himself that is an output of memory whereas both together shape the course of history. Personal narratives lay the foundation upon which the collective historical memory of nations and societies is built.
The birth of an individual within a particular cultural environment does not entail isolation from others who are different and avoiding interaction with their cultures. Historical experience has demonstrated that the border separating who is good from the bad is not related to origin or background but rather in one’s ability to take positions from a human perspective, foremost, and always. One might find a stranger who empathizes with their plight and understands their suffering more deeply than a close “relative” does. Injustice does not select its victims based on predetermined criteria, nor does justice adhere to the whims or objectives of the moment. Those who claim supporting justice in one place and time must not turn away from it in another place or time.
“Palestinian Stories”, serves as a free platform for transmitting Palestinian narratives rich in human dimensions, as recounted by their bearers, irrespective of the stages and circumstances they have endured. This modest initiative seeks to preserve the “original narrative” and to anchor it firmly within the collective historical memory of Palestinians wherever they may be found.
The website begins its journey in Arabic, with the aspiration that the team will eventually expand and complete it in English. However, it is important to note that the content in each language may not be entirely identical.
The English “Palestinian Stories” website includes the following sections:
- About
- My Archives
- My Blog
- My Albums
- My Paintings
- From my Musical Memories
- Voices from Gaza
- Your Story
- Articles
- The Jerusalem Gallery
- Links
- Contact us
Last but not least, it is important to note that “Palestinian Stories” is a personal initiative which would not have been transformed from an idea to a “website” without a committed team members to its development. Team members include with gratitude to their performance and respect for their titles:
Ahmad Al-Haddad: Executive Management of the website
Esraa Abu Aoun Ahmad: Technical Content Oversight
Nisreen Kharoufeh: Translation, Editing, and Proofreading in preparation for the English version of the website
Welcome to the “Palestinian Stories” website. I hope you enjoy your visit. We gladly look forward for your feedback, comments, and suggestions as we continue to develop and enhance the site.
