Shot for flying a flag in Gaza

Muhammad al-Bhaisy is visited by his parents in Gazas al-Shifa hospital before being transferred to
treatment in Israel.
Ezz Zanoun

Charlotte Silver-15 November 2015

The Electronic Intifada

For the past six weeks, the boundary between Gaza and Israel has been a deadly place
for Palestinians. Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinians during protests in that area
between 1 October and 6 November.

Israels violence did not deter 22-year-old Muhammad al-Bhaisy from joining a
demonstration at the boundary on 6 November. Accompanied by his friend Sharif
Mousa, he brought along a large Palestinian flag. On the way to the protest from his
home in the Deir al-Balah refugee camp, Muhammad found a stick on the street, to
which he fastened the flag.
Hundreds of young Palestinians took part in the protest at the boundary that day. As
Muhammad and Sharif arrived, they could see that Israeli soldiers had already begun
firing tear gas and bullets.
After approximately 20 minutes, Muhammad suddenly ran towards the boundary
fence, near al-Bureij, another refugee camp in Gaza. Sharif tried to hold his friend
back. But he couldnt.
A video of the incident has been uploaded to Facebook.
It shows Israeli soldiers opening fire towards Muhammad as he runs. They do not hit
him, at first.
Then Muhammad arrives at the boundary fence and mounts his flag upon it. At that
moment, he is shot.
Muhammad falls to the ground, but then raises an arm to let people know he is still
alive.
When several other young men rush to try and rescue him, Israeli soldiers fire on
them, forcing them to retreat.
Finally, another group manages to run to Muhammad and carry him away. All the
while, Israeli soldiers continue firing on them as they run away from the fence.
Blood loss
They wanted to let him bleed to death, like they have done [to Palestinians shot] in
the West Bank and in Jerusalem, Sharif told The Electronic Intifada.
A single bullet had struck Muhammad in the back of the right knee. By the time he was
brought to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, he had already lost a huge amount of blood.
Doctors at al-Shifa managed to stop the bleeding and to save his life.

Severely affected by the siege and repeated attacks, Gazas hospitals lack the
equipment required to properly treat many seriously injured patients.
Muhammad is now in critical condition at Barzilai, a hospital in Askalan (Ashkelon), a
city in present-day Israel.
Proud
It took two days before Israel granted permission for him to be transferred there. The
wait proved agonizing for his family. They were worried that Muhammad would die.
His mother, Sumaiya, said she didnt know that Muhammad had gone to the protest.
His brother, Amer, said, We were all surprised by Muhammads action. We were all
very proud.
Awadallah, Muhammads shocked father, could barely find the words to describe his
son. But he said Muhammad is kind, brave and strong, and that he wanted something
to change.
Muhammads cousin, Khalil, said that Muhammad ran toward the fence even though
he knew it could cost him his life. He carried out his act of defiance because of the
terrible life here.
Theres no work, no money and no way out, Khalil said.
Sumaiya refused to watch the video of her son being shot.
We Palestinians, its our fate to struggle. Its normal that we get shot, we die. But
when my son gets shot for the sake of Palestine, I expect him to at least be treated as a
human, she said.
Getting Muhammad out of Gaza and into Israel for medical treatment was an arduous
process, requiring Israels permission and facilitation.
The family asked the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights for help in urging Israel to
allow Muhammad travel through Erez, the checkpoint between Gaza and Israel.
Mohammed Bseiso, a lawyer with the rights group, told The Electronic Intifada that
after he spoke to doctors treating Muhammad, it was clear that the young mans life
depended on him being transferred to a normal hospital.

But Israel at first refused to grant the permission. Bseiso spent two full days dealing
with the Israeli authorities to finally secure Muhammads transfer.
Sharif Mousa plans to return to the protests once Muhammad recovers.
Muhammad raises our heads up, Sharif said. Hes a hero.
Charlotte Silver is a journalist based in Oakland, California. Twitter: @CharESilver.
Posted by Thavam