Greetings to Hampstead School and Abu Dis Boys' School

Greetings from Abu Dis - I am visiting for a while and today I have met the Headteacher and some teachers from Abu Dis Boys' School. This is a picture of some of the Abu Dis Boys' School staff at Dar Assadaqa today.

All good wishes to the relationship between your schools... How about starting to use this blog again?

If anyone needs to put anything on the blog, you can EITHER ask us for permission to be an author OR send us your letter or photos or anything you like... contact@camdenabudis.net

Nandita Dowson (co-ordinator of Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association)

Hamam is much better

This was his picture in April, with his aunt who is a teacher in Abu Dis.

News of Hamam

Good news about Hamam, who is the student who was shot in the head.

He is doing much better than expected. He seems to be determined to hold on to life, and beating all expectations so far.

He has moved from the Jerusalem hospital to Bethlehem so his parents and the rest of his big family can go and see him. He has started to be able to move his left side. He is writing messages with his left hand (he is right-handed!). He is listening to music, and making people happy by being responsive.

Hamam has a long way to go, but he is on the mend we hope.

If you would like to write to him or send a message to his family, that is a great idea.

If you use Facebook, you can find this there...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abu-Dis-Boys-School-Link/42936751091?ref=share

Pictures on the CADFA calendar 2009

If you look at the pictures in the CADFA calendar showing the Abu Dis Boys' School, you will see

In February -
Boy at the front of the class with a red shirt has been in prison now since April
Boy looking left (behind the boy with a yellow shirt) AND the boy at the back in the black shirt with longish hair were both arrested on 25th December 2008

In April -
Boy on the left was shot in the leg by Israeli soldiers on 28th December 2008
Boy on the right is the brother of Dakhlallah, the school star pupil at towjehi (A level) last year who was badly beaten and arrested by Israeli soldiers in 16th August 2008 - he was held in prison for four months and prevented from starting university on time

A message from the Head of Abu Dis Boys' School

29th Dec 08

The administration of Abu Dis school , teachers and students send the most beautiful greetings to you

Yesterday 28/12/2008 was a black day and difficult for the teachers and students at the School of Abu Dis and the people of the town of Abu Dis, because of the students attacked and arrested by the Israeli occupation army.

Students arrested:
1) Odi Khaled Mohsen, from eleventh grade.

Students also injured :
1) Ahmed Mustafa Ireqat, from eleventh grade.
2) Hammam Mohamed Muhsin, from twelfth grade, and severe injuries and is now in hospital and his condition is difficult. [See report below]


Yesterday we saw demonstrations in every country in the world in solidarity with the Palestinian people, as we have seen demonstrations in London ... All thanks and respect to you and to all those involved in support of the Palestinian people against Israeli aggression on Gaza.

HAMAM MOHAMMED MOHSEN (12th grade at Abu Dis Boys' School)

Report from Abu Dis 29th December 2008

Hamam Mohammed Mohsen 17 years old was shot in Abu Dis yesterday by Israeli soldiers. He was on a peaceful demonstration against the Israeli massacre in Gaza.

According to eye-witnesses, Hamam was shot in the middle of the street near the Water Society. An Israeli soldier who was hiding behind Abdullah Awad's shop shot him from a distance of 2 metres. Hamam was hit with three bullets before he fell down in the middle of the street no body was allowed to reach him. Two soldiers pulled Hamam's body and put him near one of the shops. He was bleeding till the ambulance arrived after 20 minutes. At first the soldiers refused to allow the Doctors of the ambulance to help him and they were not able to move him from the ground until they had been there for 40 minutes.

They took him to AlMaqased Hospital where he had a 10 hours surgery last night. There were two robber bullets in his brain and anther one was in his face. The surgery last night was just to clean the brain because there was also pieces of his skull smashed and they entered the brain. Because he was shot from so close, even if they were rubber bullets they were deadly.

Hamam who was supposed to start his tawjehi test exams today is now lying in the hospital with a very little hope to survive and even if he does, according to his doctor he will never speak, think or move again because the bullets destroyed most of his brain.

Today in the morning Hamam's father and mother managed to reach the hospital and they are still there waiting for any sign of life in their son. His class room friends have refusd to start their exams with out him. There is a general strike in Abu Dis as well as all the West Bank and things are getting worse.