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"I Will not Return Back to Gaza If not Standing on My Feet Again"

By: Ishraq Ayyoub Othman

Scattered blood flooded the square; black clouds fraught with the smoke of burning wheels, people's shouts raised more and more saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest), his camera got red-colored, and many crowded to aid him.

Mohammed Othman, a 26-press photographer, was one of the injured people who marched last year on May 15, 2011, the unforgettable day of Nakba, to Erez border crossing; however, when shooting him, he was doing his patriotic work as a Palestinian photographer who has to expose all the crimes committed by the occupation authorities through his camera. To advocate the victims of the occupation's attacks is his major aim, but he never imagined that he would be the new victim.

Mohammed Othman since his injury on May 15, 2011

A bullet shot Mohammed's left hand on which his camera was occupied and then directed to his chest; twenty bullet fragments settled close to his lungs. Besides, one of those fragments pierced the fourth bone of his spine, leading him to a hemiplegia. Othman was transferred to the intensive care room at Alshefa hospital in Gaza, and the doctors confirmed that the suitable medical treatment was not available in Gaza but in the occupation territories; nonetheless, travelling there was complicated according to the ongoing strained conditions. Consequently, the doctors determined to make a medical surgery, spending long hours to have it done successfully by removing the biggest bullet from his body. He, then, was in an urgent need to travel abroad to get treatment, for Gaza's hospitals lack to such medical equipments that fit with his healthy state. He was imposed with his father "Ibrahim Othman" to leave his family, his pregnant wife "Eman Amer" and not to see his baby for half a year.

After a year of Othman's bitter absence from his beloved Gaza, his family and his friends, he clarifies some issues through the interview I made with him via microphone at Hotmail. He starts speaking with a strong enthusiasm appeared through his words, saying," I never felt repentant because of practicing my work; rather I feel very proud since I did present services for my country by documenting the hardships which Palestinian people live."

He announces that the occupation always plans to eradicate and distort the truth; therefore he has sat on his wheelchair and has not held his camera for a year!

"They could destroy my camera but never destroy my will and determination; they rather bestow me a great morale boost to get back to my work and practice my daily life as normal", said Mohammed.

Appeals and Response

After several appeals to the local and international organizations, the Journalists Union which is subsidiary of the Palestinian president's office "Mahmoud Abbas" in Palestine adopted Mohammed's treatment in Jordan in a governmental hospital for orthopedic surgery for 2 months. " My experience in Jordan was extremely excruciating, for I had to have medical operations in my left hand which had an internal bleeding; it was recovered, by virtue of Allah, after transplanting hand nerves…Moreover, I suffer from dyspnea since 20 bullet fragments are still close to my lungs, and to eliminate those fragments will be risky", Mohammed said.

His treatment in Jordan was done, and the physical therapy had to start. Therefore, when the Turkish foundation IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation) learned about Mohammed's healthy state, it intended to transfer Mohammed to Ankara hospital in Turkey and paid the costs of his physical therapy for 4 months within which his toes started moving. IHH could not tolerate extra costs of Mohammed's treatment. Doha Center for Media Freedom, then, after endeavors, made an agreement with Reporters without Borders Organization in France to take on a part of the costs of Mohammed's therapy in a private hospital "Dar Alshafaqa" for neurological diseases. After then, the Rory Peck Trust Organization is committed to paying the costs of Mohammed's treatment "$ 3000 per month" for an exact period since February, 2012. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that Mohammed pays the housing costs"$ 1000" and the food and drink costs "$ 1500" monthly from the cheque he had when receiving the prize of the late photographer Ali Hassan Al-jaber; the photographer who passed away while conveying the savagery of Kaddafi's regime to the world.

"On March 17, 2012, in Qatar, I was handed over the prize by the National Human Rights Committee…I was selected to be the winner among 40 competitors on 'Al-jaber' prize which is honored to the journalists who are the victims of violence, and I received a cheque '$ 10.000' along with this prize", said Mohammed.

Need a Safeguard!

"As a freelance camera operator, I do not enjoy insurance or any kind of safeguards; the thing which makes my life in danger and risk", complained Mohammed.

A word to the Palestinian Nation

With an incredible determination, Mohammed says, "As a journalist, I feel responsible towards my people that I have to convey the hardships and the miserable states they live…I have to expose the occupation atrocities…My camera has to advocate the Palestinian prisoners' cause…I am missing the sit-in tents and the prisoners' families who are my family, too…Actually, what I am suffering from is nothing compared to the prisoners' suffering; however, they must be patient to return to their families' arms."

Gaza Celebrates

Mohammed concluded with hearty words saying, "It is true that my father, my wife, and my pampered baby 'Kareem' condole me here, but I feel lonely, far away from my beloved Gaza, my friends, my work, my neighbors, my relatives and my narrow town…I am separated from anything relating to Palestine although Palestine is carved in my heart and mind…Gaza does not forget about me, for on May 2, 2012 Gaza celebrates in my 26- birthday; I did celebrate via Skype with all my dear people who gathered and sang…I thank all of them."

Mohammed Othman on the left, his wife "Eman", his father "Ibrahim" on the right, and his nurse with his baby"Kareem" celebrating on Mohammed's 26-birthday

Moving to Mohammed's father "Ibrahim Othman" who accompanied on travelling for Mohammed's treatment, "We faced a lot of difficulties, but we could overcome them by Allah's relief, our friends, and the doctors", Ibrahim said.

Then, I talked with Mohammed's wife 'Eman Amer' who explained to me how she could realize the news of Mohammed's injury saying, "As a journalist, I had to check media news, and I read in some website that a photographer has been killed…I was quite sure that he was my husband 'Mohammed', especially that I dreamed the night before his injury that he was shot! I tried to call his mother, his father, and his siblings, but no one answered… Then I was told that Mohammed was shot by a rubber bullet, so I headed to Kamal Odwan hospital in Beit Hanoun, but I was prevented to see him since he was in a coma…After waking up from the coma, he told me that he felt paralyzed."

How to Alleviate the Shock

Eman continues, saying, " At first, they told me that Mohammed was in a normal healthy state, but I didn't believe them because something strange was going on with Mohammed…All the family knew well about Mohammed's healthy state except me; in a report shown on MBC1 about my husband, I knew the reality of his injury…I did know that he was completely paralyzed, I started weeping and weeping because I had nothing to do."

Eman had to leave her work and to travel with her baby to Turkey in order to stand by her husband who did not see his first baby 'Kareem' for half a year. "I gave birth to Kareem while Mohammed was in Jordan…Mohammed was deprived to wrap his baby between his arms, to hug him, and to kiss him…He could see Kareem by photos and Skype, and he always said that I would not be happy if not seeing Kareem on reality…When Mohammed saw Kareem, he stared at him and then started weeping…I arranged to stay in Turkey for only a month, but actually I could not leave Mohammed, for he needs more support," Eman said.

Whom to blame?

"We got disappointed from the Arab media organizations and institutes, for none stood by Mohammed except Doha Center for Media Freedom; on the other hand, the western organizations sought hard to help him," said Eman.

Mohammed is not the only one whose rights as a journalist are violated, so the concerned parties have to stop these attacks in order to let Mohammed stand on his feet and hold his camera, "I will not return back to Gaza if not standing on my feet again," Mohammed said.

ENDS

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