Interview with Dr.Husam (English)
Please introduce yourself.
Hello world.
I'm Husam, a husband and father of three little monkeys.
I work as an orthopedic doctor and currently live in a tent in the southwest of Gaza.
Where were you born and raised?
This is a complicated question, but I'll summarize:
My family was displaced by the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948. We moved from an old, small village called Herbia to North Gaza and settled in the Jabalia refugee camp, where I was born and raised.
This part of my history is integral to my identity.
What did you like the to do the most when you were a child?
I loved computer games and spent a lot of time in front of my PC screen.
What is/was your hobby?
I have a special hobby of searching for and discovering new things. I enjoy using Google for this purpose!
What made you become a doctor?
The main reason is that my country needs many doctors. We have always had a shortage of doctors in hospitals, and even now, we lack many critical medical specializations.
I heard from your Japanese supporter that you have a heart of compassion for others and a great personality, and that you are respected by the local people. We've only been communicating for two weeks, but I feel the same way. What do you think influenced your personality?
My parents had a huge influence on shaping my personality.
I also think that studying in Sudan for 6 years had a big influence on me.
The Sudanese people are the most simple and hospitable people on earth and I learned a lot from them. Spending a lifetime in a refugee camp and sharing constant suffering with others also shaped my personality in a unique way.
If you have a magical power and be granted three wishes, what would they be?
First, I would end this war and return to our homes in a free Palestine.
Second, I would wish for having my own house.
Third, I would travel around the world.
Who do you respect the most?
I respect the person who is honest and consistent in their words and actions. " A person with one word & one face"
What is your favorite book?
"Don't Be Sad," an Arabic book that has been translated into many other languages.
What is your favorite music?
I enjoy old Andalusian music and any type of calm, low-tone music.
What is your favorite meal?
"Maqluba," of course. It's a traditional meal consisting of rice, vegetables, and chicken with special seasoning.
The name means "the upside down."
Where is/was your favorite place in Gaza?
It's the beach, the only open space in Gaza.
Before last October, have you experienced any kind of terror of violence?
Yes, many times. I lived through the entire Intifada since 2000 with all its events, the 2004 incursion of Jabalia camp, the 2006 military operation, the 2008 war, and the 2021 war.
If you can live wherever you want and if there were no occupation or violence, where would you like to live?
I would like to live in the north of Palestine around the lake of Tabaria. The area has stunning and breathtaking nature.
You are tirelessly helping so many people, what is most needed right now?
Literally everything is needed, but the most urgent need is a ceasefire.
If you don't mind, could you tell us what has been the hardest thing for you since the war began?
The hardest was when we left our home and evacuated to the south. I remembered my grandfather telling stories about what they faced when they were forced to flee in 1948. It felt like history repeating itself. It was a harrowing journey, moving through the destruction and under fire, crossing the border created by the occupation between the north and south while tanks, snipers, and machine guns were aimed at our children's faces.
Another devastating moment was the attack on Al-Ahly hospital, which was filled with patients and evacuees. The strike killed more than 500 people, most of them children. I was on duty at Al-Shifa hospital when that happened. I saw most of the injured children, witnessed the shredded bodies, and listened to the last breaths of dozens of them.
I will never forget a single second of that night.
Is there any message you would like to convey to our readers?
Your activism regarding what's happening in Palestine has had a significant impact and continues to make a difference in our lives.
Never underestimate what you are doing. You bring us a lot of hope.
You are a cornerstone on the path to a free Palestine.
Please continue, raise your voice more and more.
URGENT REQUEST
Please make a donation to Dr. Husam, who has lost 20 kilograms since the invasion began, and tends to prioritize saving others. He also has a family of his own, including three children. The youngest child, Abboud, is said to have developed rickets due to long-term malnutrition. We would appreciate it if you could make a donation to help him increase their chances of surviving this situation where we don't know what will happen in the future.
You can donate to Hussem's family here ⬇︎
Editor's Note
Dr. Hussem, thank you so much for taking your time to answer my interview questions, even as you are currently working to save countless patients amidst the bombings and starvation. And I appreciate you for sharing with us your vivid, heart-wrenching memories that are so painful to even recall.
I met Dr.Husam just two weeks ago, when my best friends who's surviving in Gaza contracted severe hepatitis and I desperately posted about it on social media. Then, one of my follower Fumi saw it and introduced me to Dr.Husam, who was in the same area. Fortunately, they were already receiving the necessary medical care, so they didn't need to see Husam, but I can't express how relieved I was when he told me, "I'm ready to provide any support they need."
Since then, I have been learning the spirit of altruism through his actions.
Currently, it is extremely difficult to get clean water in Gaza, and people are drinking contaminated water and getting hepatitis, or getting skin diseases. Even if they can get water, it is very expensive, and even if they survive the bombings and starvation, many people suffer and die in hot tents.
Now, Husam is looking for donors to provide safe water to about 200 households in the area he lives. With Fumi and several people's support, they have contacted several NGOs and NPOs, and Husam is currently in discussions with the representative of one of these organizations. The situation on the ground is worsening day by day, and extremely fluid, and it is difficult to predict what will happen in the future, but I sincerely hope that some progress will be made.
And above all, I want an immediate and permanent ceasefire RIGHT NOW.
Thank you for reading.
Free Palestine.
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