Palestinian boy's organs donated to Israelis
06 November 2005
We are often asked: Why do some victims
of violence cling to fear and disdain, withdraw further, seek revenge -- even
kill in return -- while others aspire to understand why and move closer to the
"other" with acts of kindness and goodwill?
Good examples of latter are the 500 grieving Arabs
and Jews of the Parents Circle ~ Families Forum:
They are 500 families who seek to solve the
ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians first through dialogue and
connecting at the heart, then mutual understanding, and acts assistance and
kindness.
This
is today's news about one more very special family's response to unspeakable
tragedy.
Read how the Arab, Israeli and American press all
honor this choice to humanize all.
Here is a single Muslim Palestinian household's decision
for life -- life of people, life of relationships, life
of confidence in our shared future.
This is about one family.
It redefines power.
The power of one.
Slain Palestinian Boy's Organs Donated to Israeli
Children
Voice of America News -- 06 November 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-11-06-voa1.cfm
Family of boy killed by IDF donates his organs for peace
Ha'aretz -- Israel -- 06 November 2005
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=transplant&itemNo=642099
Parents Donate Organs of Killed Palestinian Boy
Arab News: The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily -- 07 November
2005
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=72793&d=7&m=11&y=2005
SEE VIDEO on BlinkxTV News:
http://emea-search.blinkx.com/tv/search.do?query=palestine+saves&bias=20&filter=true
Published by Aljazeera -- Monday,
07 November 2005
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/9A352851-EFDC-4980-A46D-D17DD3744F2E.htm
Palestinian boy's organs donated to Israelis
"I hope we can live a peaceful life without the killing of
children. My children and the Palestinian children in the camp are dreaming of
a peaceful life of freedom" -Ismail Khatib, father of victim
A Palestinian couple whose son died after being
shot by Israeli soldiers have donated his organs to three Israeli patients
waiting for transplants.
Ismail Khatib said his decision to donate his son Ahmad's organs
was rooted in his memories of his own brother, who died at 24 waiting for a
liver transplant, and in his family's desire to help others, regardless of
their nationality.
"I don't mind seeing the organs in the body of an
Israeli or a Palestinian. In our religion, God allows us to give organs to
another person and it doesn't matter who the person is," said Khatib, who added that he hoped the donation would send a
message of peace to Israelis and Palestinians.
On Sunday, three Israeli girls - two of them Jewish
and the other Druze - underwent surgery to receive his lungs, heart and
liver.
Donation
Ahmad, 12, was shot by Israeli soldiers on
Thursday while they were conducting a raid in the West Bank town of
The soldiers said they mistook the boy for a fighter
during a shootout and later discovered he was carrying a toy rifle.
Ahmad was brought to an Israeli hospital and put on
life support, but he died of his wounds late on Saturday and his parents
quickly agreed to donate his organs.
'Remarkable gift'
Twelve-year-old Samah Gadban had been waiting for a heart for five years when
doctors called her family late on Saturday and told them of the donation. By
Sunday afternoon, the Druze girl had a new heart and was recovering at
Schneider Children's
Samah's mother sat by her
bed holding her hand, while her father, Riad Gadban, juggled phone calls from friends and relatives in
the cardiac intensive care unit's waiting room.
Gadban called Khatib's decision to donate his son's organs a
"remarkable gift".
"This morning, I did not know anything about the
boy. I only knew that the doctors said they had a heart," Gadban said. He heard Ahmad's story while his daughter was
in surgery. "I don't know what to say. It is such a gesture of
love."
Gratitude
Khatib said he hoped to
meet the recipients of his son's organs to ensure that they were
healthy.
"The most important thing is that I see the
person who received the organs, to see him alive," he said.
Samah's family will invite Khatib and his family to a party they plan to throw when
she leaves the hospital, Gadban said.
"I want to thank him and his family. With their
gift, I would like for them to think that my daughter is their daughter," Gadban said.
Peace
The national transplant centre reported that a
14-year-old Jewish girl received Ahmad's lungs and a seven-month-old girl was
in surgery on Sunday evening receiving his liver.
The family of the 14-year-old declined to be
interviewed and the baby's parents were awaiting the outcome of their
daughter's surgery and unavailable for comment.
"I hope we can live a peaceful life without the
killing of children. My children and the Palestinian children in the camp are
dreaming of a peaceful life of freedom," Khatib
said.
"I am speaking my mind, not my heart. My heart is
weeping for my son but my mind is telling me to do something
important."
PHOTO CAPTION: The boy's parents say they hope to make a gesture of peace