Delegations to Palestine

On the day Israeli extremist Baruch Goldstein massacred dozens of Palestinians during their Fajr prayer, settlers in Kiryat Arba honoured him with a mural. Now, 31 years later, the Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre remains a painful reminder of the intensified Israeli military control over Hebron’s Old City, leading to the segregation of neighbourhoods and profound changes in daily life for Palestinians.

In recognition of this anniversary, Palestinians in Hebron will gather for an annual protest, reclaiming Shuhada Street and standing against decades of occupation policies that have systematically altered their city and way of life. This delegation provides an opportunity for those who wish to understand this reality firsthand, connecting participants with communities living under these oppressive conditions. Delegates will join CPT in nonviolent resistance efforts, including checkpoint observation, documentation, and protective presence, offering support to families affected by the wall and occupation.

Participants will also spend time in the South Hebron Hills, where Bedouin communities face constant ethnic cleansing threats. Through visiting families, standing in solidarity with them, and listening to their stories, delegates will form genuine connections with residents, learning not only about the struggles imposed by the occupation but also about the resilience and strength that define these communities.

This delegation invites individuals worldwide to stand in solidarity, explore ways to challenge systems of oppression and support Palestinian communities in their pursuit of freedom, rights, and dignity.

Palestinians face daily arrests, whether in their homes, at military checkpoints, or during peaceful demonstrations. Even liking or sharing a post on social media can lead to charges of incitement and subsequent detention. The scale of these arrests underscores the systematic oppression Palestinians endure under Israeli occupation, where any act of resistance or solidarity may be criminalised. Thousands of Palestinians are currently imprisoned simply for defending their homeland and reclaiming the rights that have been forcefully taken from them.

These sweeping arrests are often accompanied by severe physical abuse, humiliation, and degrading treatment. After being detained, Palestinians are held in harsh, overcrowded prison conditions notorious for the neglect of basic needs. Reports describe detainees being denied sufficient food, restricted access to bathrooms, and forced to endure cramped, unsanitary cells, and the use of torture and humiliation during interrogations. After release, many recount enduring tremendous suffering, especially following the events of October 7, including deprivation of basic rights to food and sleep, overcrowding, and violent beatings. In these conditions, prisoners are cut off from family contact, enduring an existence as if in complete isolation.

There are currently 10,100 Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, including 270 children and over 95 women. Among them, 3,398 are held without formal charges, under administrative detention and imprisoned by military order, often for six months or longer. Those released usually bear lasting physical and psychological scars. Emaciated, with unkempt hair and beards, they reflect the brutal reality of their confinement, as if emerging from a “death cave” where survival becomes a story of resilience against unimaginable conditions.

In this delegation, you will meet with families of detained prisoners, including children who have endured captivity, detention, and torture. You will hear their stories of suffering and learn about the impact on their families. Your role will be to amplify their voices, sharing the lived experiences of people who often go unheard. You will also have the chance to speak with formerly imprisoned individuals, who will recount the hardships and abuses they endured during their time in detention.

Transgenerational trauma is when the experiences of parents affect the development of their children — and sometimes even their grandchildren. Also known as intergenerational trauma, it can show up biologically, socially, mentally, or emotionally. 

1948-2024 means three generations; three generations suffered the diaspora, ongoing oppression, and grief. Therefore, three generations also created an ongoing example of transgenerational resilience and transcendence.

In this delegation, you will visit several communities and listen to their stories of hope and resiliency. You will meet human rights activists working for years to reach justice and freedom; you will hear stories of kids who long to return to their home cities.

You will visit people whose daily lives embody resilience and fight oppression and believe they are doing this for a better future. You will observe their connection to the land and trees and witness their belief that they share the same roots as the olive trees.

The myth of peace agreements started in 1993 with the support of the United States. The objective of this myth was to build recognition for Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization while allowing the world to institutionalise occupation and oppression.

The Oslo Accords had two phases. Firstly, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was created in 1994, and it became the primary overseer of Palestinian daily life and economic affairs. The PA was also the recognised governing body for Palestinians in the areas that Israel occupied in June 1967.

The second phase came in 1995, which permitted Israel to maintain authority over vital Palestinian resources, including oil, water, and power. Also, Israel continued to have complete control over its exterior borders and, consequently, over Palestinian trade and access to the global markets. Additionally, the Palestinian Authority had governance over fragmented lands between the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

After 30 years of unjust peace talks, the world failed to stand on the side of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination or support their access to minimum human rights.

In this delegation, you will meet people who lived before, after and through the Oslo Accords, and you will visit different areas in the West Bank and see the cities and landscapes fragmented by occupation.

In Palestine, the importance of olive trees transcends agriculture. Olives and olive oil are prevalent in every Palestinian home, and the olive season marks one of the most critical times of the year. Olive trees have flourished in the region for thousands of years. They are more than a source of sustenance; they symbolise deep-rooted Palestinian heritage and an unbreakable connection to the land. Historically, the olive tree embodies peace, security, and resilience. Ironically, this tree, often called the “tree of peace,” has become an emblem of struggle and endurance in a land that longs for peace.

Palestinians are bound to olive trees religiously, politically, culturally, historically, and emotionally. Each year, the olive harvest season brings families and communities together, fostering a spirit of solidarity as they gather to pick olives, passing down traditions from one generation to the next. However, this season is marred by a constant threat: settlers and Israeli soldiers view the olive tree as a symbol of Palestinian presence and often target it to assert control. The olive groves, older than the occupiers themselves, are frequently attacked through uprooting, burning, cutting, and even poisoning.

Despite these acts of destruction, Palestinians remain undeterred. They replant their trees, tending to their groves with devotion, even as settlers work to sever this bond. The olive tree, a silent witness to generations of resilience, grows deeper roots in Palestinian soil, embodying resistance, survival, and hope. For Palestinians, the olive tree is not merely a crop; it is a cherished partner in their enduring struggle and a testament to their enduring connection with the land. Palestinians cling to the land like the roots of an olive tree cling to the earth. It embodies their soul and sustains their life.

During this delegation, you will join Palestinian families in olive harvesting, sharing in the experience of picking olives, having coffee together, and working alongside them. You will witness firsthand the persecution, violence, and assaults that Palestinians face during the olive-picking season and the attacks on olive trees. This will be a learning moment of offering presence and solidarity in the face of this violence.