My message to the French people, from the heart of Gaza:
You have every right to protest, to be angry, and to demand your rights and a dignified life. But do not let your anger become a reason to destroy your country, loot shops, or burn property.
Remember that behind every shop is a family struggling to survive, and behind every burned door is a person who may lose their livelihood. Destroying property does not punish those in power as much as it deepens the suffering of innocent people.
Here in Gaza, we know all too well what it means to lose your home, your livelihood, and your memories, and to stand helpless before the destruction. That is why I hope no other people ever have to experience what we have endured, and that no one is forced to rebuild their life from the rubble.
Protest loudly, demand your rights courageously, and do not give anyone an excuse to dismiss your demands because of vandalism. Protect your country, because a nation is not just its government; it is its people, their homes, their livelihoods, and their memories.
From Gaza, where destruction has taught us the value of everything that is lost, I say to you: Stand up for your rights, but do not destroy with your own hands what your children will need to rebuild tomorrow.
#Paris