And We Wait....

Shadi Updates

Friday, October 21, 2022 

Shadi's father, his aunt and sister just got back from the court session at the Russian compound, and I am sorry to report that Shadi's arrest under interrogation has been extended until Tuesday. So unfortunately I have nothing new to report except that the whole episode is part of the occupation policy to terrorize those children. Please hold Shadi in your prayers and keep on the pressure for his release without further delay. With gratitude for your concern.; Samia 

Sunday, October 23, 2022 

For those of you who have been very supportive and concernedabout Shadi’s arrest, I just want you to know that there is nothing new yet. His arrest under interrogation has been extended till Sunday when there will be another hearing at the Russian compound. His lawyer had appealed the extension, but it was refused this morning at the Central Court House on Salah Eldin Street. However, it gave the family a chance to see him. Up to date he was beaten under interrogation on Tuesday the day of his arrest, he has not had appropriate medical care for his injuries that he sustained during his arrest with clear marks on his neck trunk arms and face. He reported today how they tighten the shackles on his hands and legs further whenever he complains of their tightness. We will wait for the next hearing on Sunday at the Russian compound. Please keep the pressure on so that Shadi will come back home and to us and to his school as soon as possible. Thank you all for your support and solidarity. Gratefully, Samia and the family. 

Today: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 

I was hoping to share with you some good news about Shadi at the end of the day. Unfortunately there has been another extension to his detention since a week ago. The judge was not presented with any charges against Shadi, yet he decided to postpone the court session till Thursday. Your support and pressure have been a great help, and I hope Thursday will see the end of this nightmare for Shadi and all the family. He seemed concerned about the football results today as he is quite a fan, but somebody managed to tip him on the results as he was getting into the bus after the session. I actually listen to the sports section on Monte Carlo every morning so I can discuss the latest news with Shadi when he stops by in the evenings. I do miss our evening chats, but the one who misses him most and is unable to express his feelings is the family dog, "Abboud” who was found sleeping in Shadi’s bed last night. Thank you again for your support and solidarity.

Shadi

In the early hours of this morning the Israeli occupation forces, consisting of a troop of around 12 persons consisting of army and secret service, stormed my son’s house after breaking the gate at the entrance of the compound in which we all live, so as to arrest his younger son Shadi Khoury, a sixteen-year-old child, a student at the Quakers Friends School in Ramallah. They beat him until he was bleeding all over the room and along the path on the way out of the house dragging him barefoot and blindfolded not allowing the parents to see where the blood was coming from. Shadi was taken to the interrogation section in the police compound called “the Russian compound” Shadi, a child, is being “interrogated” without the presence of his parents or a lawyer, a tactic used systematically to terrorize children into submission, and ultimately using their own words to incriminate them. Shadi is a case among so many Palestinian children that are being harassed, tortured and imprisoned for no reason other than being a Palestinian seeking to live in dignity and freedom in their own country. As an 89-year-old grandmother who has lived through the Nakba, the 1967 war, the first and second intifadas, I continue to ask you my friends: “Until when will this grave injustice go on?” Because you care for human rights, and the rights of children, I am asking you to take action now and contact your parliament or congress representative, to put an end to these grave injustices especially against our children as well as our whole population living under a brutal military occupation. Shadi should not be sleeping in a prison cell. He is a child and should be home with his family. Samia

Déjà vu

After Hurricane Ian in Florida subsided, our  Palestinian friend, married to an American,   stood by Fort Meyers Beach watching the site where  her home with all its precious belongings  once stood.  Indeed, it was a déjà vu feeling as she recalled what her parents and grandparents had told her about the Palestinian Nakba of 1948 long before she was born.  At that time around three quarter of a million Palestinians lost their homes and were forced out of Palestine to make room for the establishment of the State of Israel on their land. That is why we cannot help but empathize with such a loss.

 

I was watching President Biden’s visit to the area. So hopefully some compensation will be provided to help those young people reestablish themselves and not remain refugees forever.