– I did not leave Gaza behind when I came to Norway. I came here with a clear purpose, which involves hard work and utilizing all the opportunities Norway provides me to become someone who can help my people in the future, says Abuaita.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted on October 7, and since then, Raed has spent a lot of time keeping track of what is happening to friends and family in Gaza. He was there himself during the 2014 war but states that the current situation is the most challenging he has experienced, perhaps the worst since Israel's occupation of Palestine began.
– Israel is not only attacking militants from Hamas but targeting everyone in Gaza—civilians, children, women, the elderly, and even animals. Israel is violating numerous international laws, war laws, and human rights in the aggression on Gaza," says Abuaita, who finds it challenging to focus on studies in such a situation.
– There have been wars in Gaza before, but it has never been as bad as it is now. They don't have water, food, or fuel. Personally, it eats away at me inside that I am living in safety in Norway while my people, family members, and friends are trying to survive. It is difficult to process, says Abuaita.
Desired higher education from an early age
The 21-year-old was born and raised in Gaza, and after a brief stay in Germany, he came to Norway five years ago. He traveled to Norway with his cousin, attended high school in Volda before moving to Lillehammer for higher education.
– My father and I decided early on that I would either become a lawyer or something related to politics. He himself has a PhD in international law, and it has been our shared dream that I receive a prober education," says Abuaita.
Raed has lost many family members himself and says that over the past month, he has felt that he should have been with friends and family in Gaza. But his plan is to make a difference at a later point in life after completing his studies.
Wants to make a difference
– I have many thoughts about the future. The most important thing is that I get a position where I can make a difference. Personally, I believe that organizations like the UN can become more effective, and perhaps I can influence this in the future?
On the last day of November, he has the first of several exams before Christmas.
– I'm not quite sure how I'll manage, but it's absolutely necessary that I take it. In the next semester, I will be going on an exchange to Lille in France," says Abuaita.
Has lived in Gaza for sixteen years
It has been six years since he was last in Gaza, and he still feels a strong connection to the area where he grew up.
– I have a good life in Lillehammer, which gives me a sense of guilt. I have the opportunity to pursue higher education and access to a functioning healthcare system, and it's hard to see that my people don't have the same life. I have a responsibility to give back, both to Norway, which has welcomed me so well, and to my home country, Palestine, says Abuaita.
He describes Gaza as a place with few job and education opportunities. For this reason, he believes many people have a somewhat incorrect impression of Palestinians.
– Some think we are uncivilized because of the conditions we have lived in for several years, but it's the opposite. We are academic, and there are a lot of smart minded people who can make a big difference if given the opportunities. The fact is that our opportunities are besieged, bombed, and buried in Gaza. That's why my father worked so hard to get me out of Gaza. He wanted me to have the opportunities that many in Gaza don't get so that one day I can make a difference and help change the situation there, says Abuaita.
Even with a hectic exam period just around the corner, Abuaita from Lillehammer has taken steps to draw attention to the war in Gaza.
At the end of October, he stood with a Palestinian flag in the center of Lillehammer, and recently he spoke before the peace torchlight march about his cousin Ghada, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike. The event, attended by over 200 people, was organized by, among others, the Student Association for International Studies at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (HINN).
– I have made several good friends among my classmates, and what we study has a clear connection to what is happening in Gaza, so the class understands the situation I am in. I am grateful for the support from both students, the academic community at HINN, and the local community in Lillehammer," says Abuaita.
Plans for further studies
He is soon halfway through his studies at HINN. In the International Studies bachelor's program, he and his classmates learn about how the world is interconnected, with a focus on significant developments in international relations in the present and past. So far, he has delved into various topics in history, philosophy, and comparative politics.
– In the long run, I want to work at the intersection of law and international studies. In France, I have been advised to choose subjects related to law and diplomacy. Later, I will also pursue a master's where I specialize in the Middle East. Who knows, maybe in the future, I will write a doctoral thesis on how to find a lasting peaceful solution to the Israeli occupation of Palestine," says Abuaita.
He believes that compared to many other countries, Norway has taken a good stance on what is happening in Gaza by showing support for the Palestinian cause.
– What is happening in Gaza right now is devastating for humanity. It is a genocide that we must stop. The only way we can achieve lasting peace in the Middle East and for Israel to feel secure is by giving Palestinians their own state, not by ignoring and denying Palestinians their rights. We will rebuild our country, our Gaza, as we always do after every aggression from Israel. I want to be a part of rebuilding Gaza and the work to secure our independence from the Israeli occupation, says Abuaita.