Awda: To Jerusalem shall be our return

‘Awda: To Jerusalem shall be our return’

"We can bear the countless catastrophes here in Gaza, for we are the people of resilience who show no fear. Though they try to erase us, our homecoming is steadily near. We will walk into the courtyards, the courtyards which are so fragrant and we shall raise our hands to the sky and Thank our Lord we returned after years. For Jerusalem shall be our return, a return of a sweet victory, and we shall be amongst the crowds, the crowds that shall sing so rhythmically. Each beat shall account for our past. The past that we have fought with our testimonies. For Jerusalem shall be our return, and its wall will welcome us home. Indeed, we are the people of Palestine, and Jerusalem is our Capital. Where the doves will fly so high, and our olives will grow amongst us. We will greet those who walked with us through our hardships and sufferings, only that time shall be different for we will be smiling." - Farah, Gaza, age 16.