HOSSAM MADHOUN’S MESSAGES ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES DURING THE ISRAELI ATTACK ON GAZA IN 2014
3 August 2014
It’s nearly two o’clock on a sunny Sunday afternoon here in London. Hossam sent me this five minutes ago:
We are doing the impossible.
During my daily visit to the shelters where we provide psychosocial support to children, the activator was just starting work. He formed the children in a circle, and they started to sing, more than 100 children, of all ages, from 4 years old to 13-14 years old, as if they were just waiting for this chance, to sing, to shout, to hold each other’s hands, to feel that they are together, that they are not alone, that they are not forgotten.
While watching this beautiful image, trying to take a photo with my mobile, suddenly, the terrible sound came, the lethal sound of bombing! 3 bomb attacks, louder than the 100 children singing. The target was a building nearby, not more than 100 meters from Ahmad Shawqi School which is hosting more than 1000 displaced people.
Our activator, Fouad, did the impossible, he kept in control, defied the bombing, he kept singing louder, encouraging the children to sing louder, yet more bombing, and then singing still louder, the children followed him singing louder as if nothing was happening outside, as if no building was crashing apart only 100 meters away, the children kept singing ignoring the smoke covering the sky with a gray curtain.
All the best and respect to all our activators!! Fouad is one of among 42 activators doing the impossible to support our children in this unjust assault.
Hossam Madhoun, Maan Development Center
Read Hossam’s messages from Gaza. Next