Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

Israeli Apartheid Regime Soldiers Repress Muslim Worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Attack, Injure, Abduct more Palestinian Civilians

April 15, 2021 

Editor's Note:

While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of David, Solomon, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government abuse, mistreatment, and violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/

 

Shaikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, April 15, 2021	Izzuddin Nidal Al-Batsh, 14-year-old Palestinian, after he was shot in the eye by Israeli occupation soldiers, April 15, 2021

Shaikh Hussein Calls On Arab, Muslim Leaders To Protect Al-Aqsa Mosque

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Shaikh Mohammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, and the Khatib of the Al-Aqsa Mosque called on all Arab and Muslim leaders, and Muslims around the world, to act on protecting the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has been subject to seriously escalating Israeli violations.

Shaikh Hussein denounced the Israeli occupation army’s invasion into the holy site and the soldiers’ destruction of its various gates, in addition to the cutting and removal of the electric wires in the minarets of the holy site to prevent the calls for prayers, especially during the current holy month of Ramadan.

The Shaikh added that this attack against one of the holiest sites for Muslims around the world is a serious violation and provocation and held Israel fully responsible for the repercussions of this assault.

“The Israeli occupation authorities are provoking the feelings of Muslims around the world, through such arrogance and racism against Muslims and their holy sites,” he said, “Israel is trying to create facts on the ground by encouraging its colonialist settlers and extremist political leaders to conduct more invasions and violations against the holy site.”

Shaikh Hussein also described the Israeli Police’s decision to deny the entry of meals to the courtyards of the holy site to feed the worshipers after a long day of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, as another serious provocation and a violation of their basic rights.

He warned that such violations could cause serious tension in Palestine, as well as all Arab and Islamic countries, and target the feelings of Muslims around the world.

Shaikh Hussein called on the Arab and Islamic nations, and the entire International Community to act on ending their serious crimes and violations and added that the silence towards these crimes encourages Israel to escalate its violations.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Attack Many Palestinians While Leaving Al-Aqsa Mosque In Jerusalem

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Israeli occupation soldiers attacked, on Wednesday at night, many young Palestinian men while leaving the Al-Aqsa Mosque, after conducting prayers in the holy site.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers stopped the young men in Bab al-‘Amoud area and assaulted them causing cuts and bruises.

They added that the soldiers also prevented the Palestinians from sitting in the Bab al-Amoud area and fired many gas bombs at them.

The soldiers also stopped and interrogated dozens of Palestinians, while inspecting their ID cards.

The attack took place in the same area where, on Tuesday, the soldiers abducted five young Palestinian men while leaving Al-Aqsa.

|Israeli Soldiers Abduct Many Palestinians In Hebron And Jerusalem|

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army and the police have increased their violations against the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, especially in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

These violations include preventing the calls for prayers in the holy site’s four minarets, in addition to preventing the entry of meals to the worshippers in the evening hours after a long day of fasting without food or water.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Abduct A Palestinian In Al-Aqsa

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Israeli occupation soldiers abducted, on Wednesday at night, a young Palestinian man in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem, in the West Bank.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers abducted Mahmoud Shaweesh from Al-Aqsa, after dozens of soldiers and police officers stormed the holy site and its courtyards.

They added that Israeli intelligence officers accompanied the soldiers and the police in their invasion into the holy site.

It is worth mentioning that the soldiers abducted, on Wednesday evening, another young man, identified as Mohannad Bashiti.

In related news, the soldiers attacked many young men while leaving Al-Aqsa Mosque.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army and the police have increased their violations against the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, especially in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

These violations include preventing the calls for prayers in the holy site’s four minarets, in addition to preventing the entry of meals to the worshippers in the evening hours after a long day of fasting without food or water.

WAFA: “For the second night in a row, Israeli occupation police ban Ramadan Iftar at Al-Aqsa Mosque, attack Palestinians”

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

JERUSALEM, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 (WAFA) –

For the second night in a row, Israeli occupation police banned the entry of Ramadan Iftar meals to Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s old city, and then attacked Palestinians as they were leaving the night prayers at the Mosque, according to witnesses.

They said that the police refused to allow food into the walled holy compound, which houses Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, for the worshippers who were observing the Ramadan fast in order to break their fast at sunset.

This is the second night in a row that the police would not allow meals to the people fasting at the Mosque, a tradition of the Ramadan days in Jerusalem.

Police also banned the call for night prayers at the Mosque for the second night in a row.

At the same time, as hundreds of people were leaving the Mosque following the special Ramadan night prayers and as they reached Damascus Gate, one of the main gates to the old city of Jerusalem, police attacked the Palestinians and prevented them from sitting on the stairs outside Damascus Gate.

The police fired stun grenades at the Palestinians and detained five people, said the witnesses.

On First Day of Ramadan, Israeli Occupation Forces Attack Worshipers at al-Aqsa Mosque

 IMEMC, APR 14, 2021

On Tuesday, as Muslims worldwide commenced the annual holy month of Ramadan with prayers and fasting, Israeli occupation forces blocked access to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a holy site revered by Muslims, and attacked worshipers as they attempted to enter.

10,000 fully-vaccinated Palestinians attempted to perform their prayers at al-Aqsa on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Israeli authorities also seized meals that had been prepared for the breaking of the fast at dusk. Muslims celebrate Ramadan by fasting from sunup to sundown each day for a month, and breaking the fast with prayer and a meal known as iftar.

In addition, Israeli forces cut the wires to loudspeakers that had been set up outside the mosque to call worshipers to prayer and to celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.

According to Israeli media sources, Israeli police pushed and harassed Palestinian Muslim worshipers, and some youth began throwing stones at the police.

The clashes came after the cutting of the loudspeaker wires, and the seizure of the meals that were being distributed by volunteers in the Bab al-Asbat area near the Aqsa Mosque. Israeli occupation forces also removed the door of Bab al-Asbat minaret, stormed the roof of the minaret and ransacked it.

The Palestinian Foreign minister Riyad Malki called on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take steps to protect Palestinian Muslim worshipers from these continued and ongoing assaults on their freedom to worship at the al-Aqsa mosque.

According to the Palestinian Wafa News Agency, the foreign minister condemned the attacks against Al-Aqsa, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Malki stressed that Palestine will continue to coordinate its efforts with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and through its Secretary-General, and with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to confront such Israeli incursions against the al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Palestinian President also condemned the deactivation of the loudspeakers of Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first day of Ramadan.

Presidency Spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said shutting down the loudspeakers during the Taraweeh and Isha prayers was a racist hate crime, a “racist attack on the sanctity of the holy places and the freedom of worship” as well as a “gross violation of the international human rights conventions” committed by Israeli police.

He cautioned about the consequences of “this Israeli aggressive policy which threatens to transform the conflict into endless religious war that would undermine international peace and security” and held the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for such consequences.

He called upon the international community to take serious action in order to rein in the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Islamic and Christian holy places in Jerusalem.

In addition, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates today condemned the ongoing Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third holiest site, the latest of which was yesterday’s occupation police breaking into the Islamic Museum and going on the roof to cut the wires to the external loudspeakers of the Mosque in the western side, as well as harassing Waqf staff who are Jordanian government employees.

Sheikh Muhammad Hussein, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and Palestine and the preacher of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, appealed to the Arab and Islamic countries to intervene and check the Israeli violations against the Mosque.

Israel Delaying Medical Treatment Of Ailing Palestinian Detainee

IMEMC,  APR 15, 2021

The Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has reported, Thursday, that Israeli is constantly delaying the urgently needed medical treatment of an ailing Palestinian detainee with serious health conditions, including in his heart and kidneys.

The Commission said the detainee, Sharhabeel Abu Threa’, 49, from the al-‘Ezariya town, near Jerusalem, is held under arbitrary Administrative Detention orders, without charges or trial.

It added that the detainee suffers from several chronic conditions, including Cardiomyopathy, and is in urgent need of a pacemaker, in addition to high blood pressure, Pulmonary edema, Gout (a common and complex form of inflammatory arthritis), Renal indolence, disc issues in the back and neck, in addition to high cholesterol levels.

The Commission said the detainee needs urgent specialized medical care, as further delays could pose serious complications that could turn fatal.

Israeli Occupation Army Soldiers Abduct Two Palestinian Siblings Near Jericho

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Israeli occupation soldiers abducted, Thursday, two Palestinian siblings while driving from Jericho, in northeastern West Bank, to their homes near Ramallah, in central West Bank.

The Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) said the soldiers abducted Mahmoud Walid Ismael, 30, and his brother Odai, 25, from Ein Arik village, west of Ramallah.

WAFA added that Odai is a Customs Officer with the Palestinian Authority.

The Israeli occupation soldiers also stopped and searched dozens of cars, and interrogated scores of Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Abduct Many Palestinians In Hebron And Jerusalem

 IMEMC, APR 14, 2021

Israeli occupation soldiers abducted, on Wednesday, many Palestinians in Jerusalem and Hebron, in the occupied West Bank.

Many soldiers and police officers invaded, on Wednesday evening, Bab Hutta in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, and abducted a young man identified as Mohannad Bashiti.

The soldiers and police officers were also extensively deployed around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, before invading its courtyards following evening prayers, and abducted Mahmoud Shawish.

Furthermore, the soldiers abducted Ahmad Marwan Abu Jom’a, from his home in the at-Tour town, in Jerusalem.

In related news, an Israeli court ordered Mohammad Froukh, Amir Froukh, Ahmad Abu Khalaf, and Mansour Abbassi, from the at-Tour town, under further interrogation without setting a date for a court hearing.

Also, the soldiers abducted Jawad Issa Jaradat, 24, after stopping him on a military roadblock at the entrance of Beit ‘Anoun town, east of the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Palestinian Ministry of Culture Denounces Israeli Abduction Of Young Female Writer

IMEMC,  APR 13, 2021

The Palestinian Ministry of Culture issued a statement, Tuesday, denouncing the Israeli occupation army’s abduction of a young female writer in Yassid village, northeast of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

The Minister of culture, Atef Abu Seif, denounced in the statement the abduction of Shams Mashafi, who was taken prisoner by the soldiers after they broke into her home, Monday.

Abu Seif added that the abduction of the young author is part of Israel’s ongoing violations against the Palestinian people.

He also said that the abduction of Palestinian authors and academics is a direct Israeli assault on the Palestinian culture and its intellectuals.

It is worth mentioning that, in the year 2020, Mashafi published a book consisting of several literary texts.

On Monday at night and Tuesday morning, the soldiers abducted five Palestinians from several parts of the West Bank, including one from the occupied capital, Jerusalem.

In related news, the soldiers fired many live rounds, on Tuesday morning, into Palestinian farmlands in the al-Qarara town, north of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the besieged Gaza Strip.

Israeli Occupation Soldiers Fire Live Rounds Into Farmlands In Khan Younis

 IMEMC, APR 13, 2021

Israeli occupation soldiers fired many live rounds, on Tuesday morning, into Palestinian farmlands in the al-Qarara town, north of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the besieged Gaza Strip.

Eyewitnesses said the soldiers fired the live rounds at the Palestinian farmers while working on their lands, near the perimeter fence.

They added that the shots came from the military towers across the fence, and stated that the farmers had to leave their lands in fear of further violations.

The attack is part of the numerous and ongoing Israeli violations targeting the Palestinian farmers, shepherds, and fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

These attacks have led to dozens of casualties, including fatalities, in addition to the abduction of many farmers, shepherds, and fishermen.

In the West Bank, the soldiers abducted, on Monday at night and Tuesday morning, five Palestinians from several parts of the West Bank, including one from the occupied capital, Jerusalem.

Dozens Of Illegal Israeli Settlers Invade The Ibrahimi Mosque In Hebron

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers invaded, late on Thursday at night and on Friday at dawn, the yards of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

Eyewitnesses said the colonists were accompanied by soldiers, who were extensively deployed around the holy site and its surrounding Palestinian area.

They added that the colonists used loudspeakers to play music and were singing and dancing while the Muslims were holding prayers in the holy site and its courtyards.

It is worth mentioning that, last month, the Israeli army prevented the Sheikhs from using the speakers of the mosque to call for prayers more than 59 times, allegedly for “annoying the colonists” who live in nearby illegal colonies and outposts.

On Wednesday night, Israeli soldiers abducted a young Palestinian man in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in addition to attacking many young men while leaving the holy site, in the occupied Palestinian capital, Jerusalem, in the West Bank.

It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army and the police have increased their violations against the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, especially in and around Al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

These violations include preventing the calls for prayers in the holy site’s four minarets, in addition to preventing the entry of meals to the worshippers in the evening hours after a long day of fasting without food or water.

Illegal Israeli Settlers Cut Trees, Damage Fence, Near Nablus

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

A group of illegal Israeli settlers invaded, late on Wednesday at night, Palestinian agricultural lands, before cutting dozens of recently planted trees, in addition to damaging a fence and stealing construction supplies, in Jaloud village, southeast of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the colonists came from a nearby illegal outpost that was installed on private lands.

He added that the colonists invaded a land, owned by Hisham Emad Hammoud, located in Basin 6.

Daghlas stated that the colonists cut all trees which were recently planted, and spilled more than thirty cement bags on iron bars that were supposed to be used for a new construction nearby, before pouring water on them, and stole construction supplies.

A few days ago, the colonists destroyed several electricity poles and powerlines in the eastern area of Jaloud, causing substantial damage and power blackouts.

Several months ago, the colonists invaded a Palestinian orchard in Jaloud and cut more than 250 olive saplings.

On Thursday, a group of Israeli colonialist settlers, attempted to invade a Palestinian school near Tubas, in northeastern West Bank, causing anxiety attacks among the schoolchildren.

Illegal Israeli Settlers Attempt To Invade School Near Tubas

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

On Thursday, a group of illegal Israeli settlers, illegally squatting on Palestinian lands, attempted to invade a Palestinian school near Tubas, in northeastern West Bank, causing anxiety attacks among the schoolchildren.

Saed Kabaha, the head of the Directorate of Education in Tubas, said the colonists invaded Khirbat Ibziq village, northeast of Tubas, and attempted to break into the Tahadi 10 school.

He added that several children suffered anxiety attacks before the teachers, and staff, managed to repel the invasion attempt of the school.

It is worth mentioning that the village, and several surrounding areas, are subject to repeated invasions and violations carried out by the colonists and the army.

***

Caught on video: Israeli forces shot Palestinian boy, 14, in the eye

 IMEMC, APR 15, 2021

Security camera footage shows that this Palestinian boy was shot in the eye as he stood in a sheltered place with his cousin, doing nothing. Rights groups have long condemned Israel’s use of steel-coated rubber bullets, which have repeatedly killed and wounded Palestinians.

by Akram al-Waara, reposted from Middle East Eye, April 13, 2021

It was a typical Friday afternoon for 14-year-old Izz al-Din al-Batsh. Friday prayers were finished and he was done with his homework for the weekend. As he normally did on non-school days, he left his home in the Old City of Hebron, an occupied city in the southern West Bank, and made his way to the vegetable shop where he worked with his cousin Karim.

The store sits just outside the Old City, in the Bab al-Zawiya neighborhood, one of Hebron’s flashpoints. It is also the site of near-weekly confrontations between local Palestinian youths and armed Israeli soldiers, who are permanently stationed at a military checkpoint in the area.

Typical of most Fridays, clashes ensued after prayers. Israeli forces fired tear gas, sound bombs and rubber bullets at small crowds of young Palestinians, who threw stones at the armed soldiers.

Izz al-Din and Karim watched, several meters away, from what they believed to be the safety of the shop.

“We could see the soldiers not too far away from us, and there were some other kids around also watching the clashes,” Izz al-Din told Middle East Eye from his bed. From what he could make out, the soldiers were firing tear gas and sound bombs.

Izz al-Din Nidal al-Batsh, 14-year-old Palestinian, lies in the hospital after he was shot in the eye by Israeli forces. (screenshot)

“We were just watching the clashes and all of a sudden I felt something hit me in the face,” he said. He fell to the ground as the pain bit into the area around his right eye.

The moments after he fell to the ground are a blur.

Izz al-Din was rushed to a local hospital by other bystanders. Emergency room doctors and nurses gave him first aid.

When he eventually came to, doctors told Izz al-Din that he had sustained a serious wound from a rubber-coated steel bullet, and would likely completely lose his right eye.

A video of a confused Izz al-Din, his eye and head covered in bloody bandages, crying as he lay in the hospital next to his father, went viral on social media over the weekend, as Palestinians from across the West Bank lamented the teen’s plight.

“I can’t describe the feeling, as a father, of seeing your child like that,” Nidal al-Batsh, Izz al-Din’s father told MEE on the roof of his house. “It’s absolutely devastating.”

“I think that even if it wasn’t my son, but I saw that video of Izz al-Din in that state, I would have broken down as well,” he said, referring to the outpouring of grief and support his family has received in the wake of the video.

“It’s devastating, just on a human level,” Batsh continued. “It’s horrible for anyone, old or young, to suffer an injury like this one – but especially for a young child like Izz al-Din.”

‘I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy.’ Nidal al-Batsh, Izz al-Din’s Palestinian father, is calling for the Israeli soldiers involved to be held accountable after they shot his son in the eye (MEE/Akram al-Waara)

A DEADLY WEAPON

Following the news of Izz al-Din’s injury, a number of media outlets quoted his cousin Karim as saying that the soldiers fired directly towards the boys, speculating that the boy could have been wrongfully targeted by the soldiers.

The Israeli army reportedly opened a division-level investigation into the incident, after which the division’s commander concluded that the soldiers had not fired directly at the shop, according to the Times of Israel.

According to the paper, the Israeli forces’ unit in charge of investigations into wrongdoing and negligence, the military police, had not opened up their own investigation.

“There was a violent protest, including stone-throwing and stone-slinging, and the military responded with riot dispersal mechanisms, including rubber bullets,” an Israeli military spokesperson said in a statement published by Israeli media.

The spokesperson claimed that it is possible that Izz al-Din was wounded by a ricocheted rubber bullet or rocks thrown by protesters.

Izz al-Din’s family maintains that the confrontations were taking place down the street from the vegetable shop, and that the boys were not participating.

Those claims are backed up by the shop’s security camera footage. It shows Izz al-Din (on the right) and Karim (on the left) standing inside, watching the confrontations – which can’t be seen inside the frame – from a distance.

Karim can be seen ducking and pulling away before coming back up, at which point Izz al-Din peaks his head forward a tiny bit. At that moment, Karim can be seen dashing backwards, as Izz al-Din clutches his face and falls to the ground behind the crates of vegetables.

“The boys were clearly not participating in the clashes or stone-throwing,” Batsh told MEE. “But even if they were, is that an excuse to seriously injure or maim someone in the way that the soldiers did to Izz al-Din?”

“Whether he was shot on purpose or not, the reality is that he is a child, and he lost his eye as a result of the soldiers’ actions,” he added.

“Palestinians have been sustaining serious and life-threatening injuries as a result of things like rubber bullets and tear gas,” Batsh said, referring to what Israel calls “crowd dispersal measures”.

After his son was shot in the eye by Israeli forces, Palestinian father Nidal al-Batch stated, ‘We were lucky that Izz al-Din was not killed, but who’s to say that someone else will not be killed by these bullets?’ (MEE/Akram al-Waara)

For decades, Palestinian activists and rights groups have condemned Israel’s use of rubber-coated steel bullets. Though less lethal than live ammunition, the bullets can cause serious damage – and even death – to those struck.

A 1988 report by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem found that in 11 months during the First Intifada, at least 58 Palestinians were killed by rubber-coated steel bullets.

In the report, forensic pathologist Dr Robert Kirschner said that “non-lethal” weapons such as rubber-coated bullets, were capable – when used against civilians – “of inflicting severe pain and varying degrees of injury. Many of the weapons, even when used as prescribed, may cause death in susceptible persons, particularly children, the elderly and those with underlying illness such as heart disease”.

In 2013, B’Tselem and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) called for an immediate end to the use of rubber bullets against protesters in the West Bank, following numerous instances of rubber bullets killing or seriously wounding protesters.

The shooting of Izz al-Din is far from the first. In February 2020, 9-year-old Palestinian boy, Malik Eissa, was shot in the eye by Israeli occupation forces. The soldier was cleared of all charges. (Saudis2018/Twitter)

A 2017 report from a team of US-based researchers, analysing data from several countries including Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, found that rubber bullets caused significant injuries and fatalities.

According to the study – using data taken from 26 different reports published across more than 25 years – three in every 100 people wounded by rubber-coated bullets died as a result, while more than 15 percent were left with a permanent disability.

“We were lucky that Izz al-Din was not killed, but who’s to say that someone else will not be killed by these bullets?” Batsh asked, adding that he believed Israeli forces should halt the use of the weapon.

“Today it was my son, but tomorrow it could be my neighbour, or his son or someone else in the community,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy.”

“The soldiers who did this need to be held accountable, so that this never happens again to another child – or to any other Palestinian.”

The Israeli army did not respond to a MEE request for comment.

LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Three days on, Izz al-Din is recovering at home, surrounded by his parents and siblings. He spends most of his time laying in bed, with his eye and the right side of his face still covered in bandages.

According to his father, doctors at the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital, where Izz al-Din was transferred for surgery on Friday night, rushed him into emergency surgery but were ultimately unable to save his eye.

“The doctors did everything they could, they had no other choice,” Batsh said, adding that he was just glad that his son was alive, and that his left eye appeared to be safe.

Batsh said that while the family was focused for now on Izz al-Din’s recovery, they’re looking into different options, including a potential prosthetic eye implant.

“His health is more important to us than anything. We pray to God that we can find some kind of treatment for him, it doesn’t matter where,” he said.

With few options in the West Bank, Batsh added that he would welcome any medical advice or assistance that doctors and medical professionals around the world could offer the family.

“We just want him to play football with his friends again, to be able to complete his studies and be a normal child,” Batsh said. Izz al-Din was at the top of his class, he added, and had always excelled at school.

Izz al-Din, who described the experience as a “huge shock”, feels lucky to be alive.

“I know I lost my eye, but there are other people who have lost so much more than that because of the Israeli occupation.”

***

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