Dear Friends,
It has been another brutal week, and we mourn the terrifying loss of life that we encounter this fall of 2023, a season of violence that transforms a land I love and that I know I will remember forever.
Especially now, I am writing with my deepest gratitude for your support of 1for3 and our work with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank. It means the world during this difficult time.
Our kindergarten is continuing to be a safe space for children. Our students are attending classes and finding a playful refuge from the news and the world around them for a few hours a day. The produce in our rooftop garden keeps growing, and our teams bring healthy food to those in need. Our health program delivers physical and mental health care to the sick. The people that make these actions possible are amazing. We are so fortunate to work with them. I wake up each day thinking of our team members' safety.
Since October 7, thousands have been killed and wounded, and over a million Palestinians have faced forced displacement. In the West Bank, where our programs are located, Israeli military and settler violence has resulted in deaths, injuries, and arrests without charge. We are just beginning to mourn a teenager killed on his rooftop in Aida Camp early on the morning of November 10, Mohammad 'Azziyya, whose mother is a patient in our community health care program. We will write more about his family in coming communications.
We started with 1,400 Israelis on Oct. 7th, at least 845 of whom are civilians and 31 children, and around 239 hostages. After 37 days, over 11 thousand Palestinians have been killed, 68% of whom are women and children. At least 2,650 are missing including 1,400 children. 1.5 million Palestinians are internally displaced. In the West Bank, 167 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, including 45 children. Between November 8-9, 18 Palestinians were killed including 1 child. 8 Palestinians including 1 child have been killed by settlers. 3 Israelis have been killed in the West Bank. [OCHA]
In addition, thousands have been arrested by the Israeli military and incarcerated without trial. At least 40 have been detained without trial from the UN-run Aida refugee camp, the location of our main program partner, the Lajee Center.
How many more before a ceasefire comes into an effect? For many Palestinians it seems as if the world has lost its humanity. For us, we need to do whatever we can to keep the pressure and at the same time, to show Palestinians that they are not alone. I find strength and an impetus to continue in the words of Ahmed Abu Artema, a Palestinian activist who led the Great March of Return in 2018. He lost his son and his home two weeks ago in Gaza, and he was badly injured in the same air strike. As he wrote on Facebook. “Deep respect to the millions who raised their voices in the U.S, Europe, and all over the world. Free people are our hope for a world with justice.”
In solidarity, and with hope,
Nidal