They say Palestine doesn't exist

If Palestine doesn't exist, then why does Israel have a border guard with a passport check at Erez when I go to Gaza?

If Palestine doesn't exist, why do I get a red exit slip from Israel indicating I have left Israel when I cross Erez into Gaza? If Palestine doesn't exist, then where am I going after I get the Israeli exit slip?

If Palestine doesn't exist, why do I get a blue entry permit from Israel (like the one you get at the airport) when I cross from Gaza back through the passport check and into Israel? Where am I entering Israel from if the place I just left doesn't exist?

If Palestine doesn't exist, why don't Israeli SIM cards work when I am in Gaza? Where does the +970 country code go when I dial a phone number? Who is the .ps ccTLD assigned to? Why is there an entry in the time zone database for Palestine? Why is there an ISO 3166-2 entry for Palestine?

If Palestine doesn't exist, why can't Palestinians bring bags with wheels or laptops in to Gaza, but I can? If Palestine doesn't exist, then it shouldn't matter what we bring with us when we go nowhere.

If Palestine doesn’t exist, whose fishing waters does the Israeli navy control? If Palestine doesn't exist, where are the fish taken after they are caught? Why is the sea that fishermen can fish from so tightly controlled? If Palestine doesn't exist, why does Israel control the food supply?

If Palestine doesn’t exist, then why did my Arabic teacher need to apply for an Israeli permit to get medical treatment? Why was she denied? If Palestine doesn’t exist, where is she buried?

If Palestine doesn't exist then where did I leave the other half of my heart and soul?

Palestine exists.

I can feel the sand in between my toes in Gaza. I can smell the knafeh cooking in Nablus. I can hear the adhan blast through the streets of Jerusalem. I can taste the potent shisha smoke bubbling in the cafes in Ramallah.

Palestine exists.

I can feel the tears forming at my eyes as I type this and the rage boiling through my blood as my anger festers.

Palestine exists.

My friends await death at the hands of a violent, genocidal, fascist military occupation while ignorant tech-industry nincompoops argue over whether or not the murder of 1% of the child population of a place is a justifiable action.

Palestine exists.

I know it exists because I've done more than seen or gotten lost in it; more than reading about it in books; more than arguing endlessly for its survival.

I know it exists because I love it and my heart and soul are there now.

And one day, when Palestine is free from Israeli occupation, you will finally be allowed to love it too.

Special thanks to my friend Anam Raheem for her tireless effort reading and providing feedback on my posts. Read her work on her blog.