Conversations with Oday
Words by Oday – please follow on IG @oday.7gaza
This image is the last image taken of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya before he was taken captive by the Israeli Occupation Forces, and eyewitnesses have reported that he was stripped and then beaten. He was then transferred to the notorious Sde Teiman prison and has not been heard from since.
I hate this image, and I can’t get it out of my head. Despite the relentless footage of broken bodies, headless babies (real ones not the made-up ones from 7th October), and countless other images that capture when humanity died, this is the one that makes me cry whenever I think of it.
For over 70 days Dr Hussam and the staff of Kamal Adwan Hospital fought desperately to save their patients and to continue to be able to look after the besieged people of Northern Gaza. He begged, pleaded and shared the horrors with the world. And yet at the end of it all, the hospital fell, without a peep from Western Media. He walked out there alone, in his medical coat to meet the tanks and to fight for his people. He knew what was ahead of him, his son had already been killed and he had been shot by the same forces he was facing.
In this one photo the absolute worst and best of humanity. The world abandoned him like they abandoned Northern Gaza, Gaza, the West Bank, the Palestinians and the people of the Levant. How dare we?
Oday is my friend. At 21, he is the sole provider for his beloved family in Gaza and needs our help. Every day is a struggle for survival for his family. His dream is to help them evacuate as soon as border crossings are opened.
If you can help at all, no donation too small, it would make such a difference to people who are in such dire need.
To help Oday and his family please see below:
You can donate directly to his GoFundMe Account
You can also donate to Oday’s sister Ameera who has a separate fundraising account to support her and her young son, Oday’s nephew Amir.
You can donate to me at the shop. I also have fundraisers instore and online.
My New Year’s wish is simple.
World Peace.
Thank you,
xxxLara
Beauty, hope, joy, & inspiration
Comments