Sweet Caroline, I'm not yet at my 20's. I never said I prefer to live here. But I can handle it fine, as I've said earlier I most likely will be going to an arabic nation to study there.
We do have some things we need. For example, food. But many cant afford a large abundance. Then gas shortages have became a major issue. I can go and on. I don't like complaining too much though.
And Hamas's rule is perfectly fine with me, I like them, they like me. If you lived in a arabic nation I'd like to see rule by lending your hand and see where'd you'd end up. They sort of rule with and iron fist. Whatever that means. And I adore that.
Although there's no sharia law here, Islamic law is integrated into Palestinian law. What I noticed is it works. This isn't a society where your next door neighbor is doing drugs, or girls and boys are not innocent and having pre martial relationships which destroy a society. A society becomes meaningless when people have a huge obsession with fun, drugs, sex, etc..
That being said, people are free to do what they want, I've seen very secular men and women and not secular men and women. And by secular, I don't mean non religious. There's lots of fun to be had here. And girls interact with guys it's normal, but not any guys. Because its just not our culture. I interact with my female cousins commonly. You may have a big misconception of our culture. And one of my female cousins is a gorgeous looking girl who chooses to be devote and wears a full face veil. She's older than me by years. And she gets along with me.
Most of the good people here tend to lean to the better side. Even though you probably had thought disturbed men and women are like that.
Well, it seems your problem is you don't see a culture besides your culture in the world. Try traveling, America isn't the only nation in the world. Everyone has their own culture and beliefs.
And I'm not oppressed by Hamas, never was, they don't have anything to do with me or most people and I see nothing Hamas in my daily life here. You need to quit being so keen to tell me that I'm oppressed when I live here and you don't.
Israel definitely oppresses many people here, step one should be that israel lists the items the ban from entering Gaza. Which they refuse to present to the international world. And this has an heavy toll to our economy.
Also the Egyptian border is regulated by Israeli terms, ever since Camp David they had agreed to not let all commercial goods through since israel demanded it is part of the peace deal.
You should put your bias aside for a minute.
Where you decide to live is none of my business.
Of course though Gaza wants for nothing. It has everything it needs coming through legitimate crossings from Israel, hundreds of tons worth, and since the ban was lifted on building materials coming into Gaza it now has everything it needs. Plasma tvs, American-style refrigerators etc.
You seem, from what I have seen so far, more reasonable than other posters who support the Palestinian side on forums, so please, do us a favor and speak out against the rocket attacks, speak out against the murderous nature of Hamas and other factions. Because if you don't speak out then you are as good as being complicit with Hamas.
I am reasonable, however, that doesn't come with condemning my military organization. They don't have a 'murderous' nature. Hamas only responds aggressively when an aggressive Israeli offensive takes place. And even with their 'aggressive' response, it hardly does much damage to Israel. Rocket attacks are their way of responding to Israeli attacks. It's their form of a deterrent and only exists to create a deterrent. No one here seeks to go on the offensive and that is impossible either way. We here believe israel has an aggressive government. And Israelis won't condemn their military aggression. As well as their sons in the military. As here, we won't condemn our sons in the military organizations. Projectiles generally only are fired when israel provokes factions into firing them. And the biggest factions is the Al-Qassam Brigades. Followed by the Saraya AlQuds brigades. They both are responsible and only seek to prevent future attacks on the Gaza Strip. And if they could smuggle in defensive weapons they would. Unfortunately, they could only smuggle in projectiles and ineffective old manpads. Had someone opened their arms to us and gave us guided weapons of effective modern defensive weapons that's all we need.
You also need to look at from the palestinian perspective, the same people claiming they prefer calm are the same people who attacked our villages and took control of our land. Resulting this 60 year occupation.
Israel is asking us to put our arms down and accept their occupation and their illegal formation of their state. They seek to Judacize our cities because they do actually believe they are entitled to our land. Through brute force they conduct this as well.
We don't agree with this perspective, and this is part of the palestinian struggle for self determination. The armed struggle will always stay a part of it.
Lets be honest here, we all know, the only way palestinians can reclaim their land is through a military victory. We lost our land due to a military defeat. Israel and its government seeks to attain all the land and thus it doesn't declare it's borders.
While at this it seeks to make conditions so difficult for Palestinians so they choose to move out and this way israel can keep a Jewish majority population as they seek. This doesn't go hand in hand with a peace deal.
Israel is no friend of ours, they seek break us apart. You need to recognize that fact. They only seek their excess at our price and we have a right to defend ourselves from this ongoing occupation.
We also let our people's blood be shed without making Israelis lives difficult during war just as they make our citizens live miserable.
I recommend you take a look at the history of the Israeli military. It's no innocent bear that's for sure. I also request of you to not blindly follow this inaccurate representation of the conflict.
This conflict started long ago before even the first primitive rocket was created. The conflict is due to our denial of self determination and Israel's occupation of our land. That's the center of the conflict and always was and always will be even long before Hamas was created, which is relatively new.
Now, what are your views about this occupation? And if you can't have it both ways. If you're one of those people who tells us it's Jewish land and no occupation exists.
That's far from reasonable and that justified the armed struggle even further.
, there's more to life than living conditions, I have decent living conditions here since I have money. I'm still here for another month and I don't want to go back to America. My family is but I'm going to Qatar and doing studies there. I rather live in a Arabic country than live in America. Everyone's different, but hey, this is my personality and my taste. I know God is with me wherever I go. God tells us to don't get too attached to the wonders of this temporary life. I choose to listen to the Great.
