Today I Wrote Zero Words! But I Did Think About My Story Twice In Passing. That Probably Counts For Something

The first Palestinian athlete to participate in the Olympic games died on Wednesday at the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza as a result of kidney failure due to power outages and medical shortages as a result of the ongoing Israeli war and siege of the enclave.

Majed Abu Maraheel, who passed away at the age of 61, became the first athlete to be the flag bearer and represent Palestinians at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. Being a distance runner, he competed in the 10km race.

Since his breakthrough on the world stage, more than 20 Palestinian men and women have been able to compete at Olympic competitions.

"He was a Palestinian icon, and he will remain as such," his brother told Paltoday TV after the funeral.

"We tried to evacuate him to Egypt but then the Rafah crossing was closed (by Israel), and his condition kept deteriorating."

In his preparation for the Olympics, Abu Maraheel would often be seen on his daily runs from his home in Gaza to the Erez Crossing with Israel, which Israel closed in October after imposing a full blockade on the Strip.

Last month, it was reopened for the first time since then.

He would often have to pass through that crossing for his job as a day labourer in Israel. After participating in the Olympics, Abu Maraheel went on to become a coach for other Palestinian runners hoping to replicate his presence at the international competition.

Abu Maraheel's death highlights the grim fate of many Palestinians who are facing kidney failure in Gaza.

A report from the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor in March found that there were between 1,000 to 1,500 patients in Gaza with kidney failure, and that they are facing a "slow death" because of "a lack of medical and therapeutic services, medications and other necessities".

Israel denies blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza, though aid agencies say they are not able to get aid in because of Israeli restrictions.

This is the same thing over and over again. Palestinians die every day, but it gets a lukewarm headline from mainstream media because death and destruction is inherent to Arabness. Then an aid convoy with white workers is obliterated, and now both the president of the United States and the president of Israel are making statements apologizing for “the poor protection of aid workers.” At one point we were seeing multiple reports a day of paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society dying, but nothing. Crickets. Because they don’t care. And even in these “remorseful statements” there is a strategic reminder that white lives hold more weight than brown lives.

Help my family 🩸🩸

I am Ahlam from Gaza

I am 54 years old and have 9 daughters and a son

I suffer from kidney failure, and with limited hospital resources, I ask you to help me go out to receive treatment so that I can take care of my children.

I am displaced in tents. I have been displaced more than 10 times, and my house was bombed, and I have no shelter, and this makes my condition worse.

Every $10 or $20 will contribute to saving my family

https://gofund.me/61f1dd1f

Please do not leave us alone. Donate even a small amount of money

We are dying every day. Not a day comes without mentioning the martyr. The world cannot help us live a better life. Please help us. I want to get my family out of Gaza and live a better life than this. I want to eat healthy, live in a clean house, and learn. And to complete my university studies💔💔😔😭🙏🏻🙏🏻

The donation campaign is increasing, but it is very weak. I ask you to publish it and circulate it to all your friends🙏🏻💔

https://gofund.me/114c6613

Note:

Vetted by @gazavetters , my number verified on the list is ( #94 )

@a-shade-of-blue

Dear Palestine supporter.

.I saw that you took an interest in many Palestinian campaigns in Gaza.thank you and i need your help 🙏🏻😔

@appsa @sar-soor @sayruq @stuckinapril @heritageposts @neptunerings @feluka @malcriada @queerstudiesnatural @rizzyluke @determinate-negation

Thank you for the complete reading 🙏🏻🥺

ursula k le guin: if confronted directly with the knowledge that society requires suffering to be maintained, would you be capable or willing to abandon the structure and safety for uncertainty, strife, deprivation?

strange and inscrutable people who claim to know how to read: i would simply solve the problem

14/03/24

Today's breaking news:

•A number of Palestinians were killed by the occupation forces whilst waiting for the humanitarian aid in the north of Gaza.

•An elderly Palestinian cries over losing his home which was destroyed by the occupation in Gaza.

•Major destruction in Hamad Town after the occupation forces withdrew from it.

•8 Palestinians were killed by an Isr@eli air strike that targeted an aid distribution warehouse in the Nuseirat camp.

•A number of Palestinians were killed and others were injured by an Isr@eli air strike in Rafah.

•Dozens of Palestinians were killed by the occupation forces whilst they were waiting for the humanitarian aids at the Kuwait roundabout in the north of Gaza.

And always

Free Palestine, All Eyes On Rafah

Hope in the Face of Adversity: Supporting Hani to Rebuild His Life 🍉🕊️

Hello, I am Hani 💫

gofundme.com

Donate to Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Hope: Hani's Journey, organized by Hani Yasser

Hope in the Face of Adversity: Supporting Hani to Rebuild Hi… Hani Yasser needs your support for Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Ho

I am a 26-year-old young man from Gaza. The war destroyed everything I held dear; I lost my home 🏚️, my job 💼, my car 🚗, and most painfully, I lost members of my extended family. Today, I live in a tent with my younger siblings, while my father, who is unable to work, and my sick mother suffer from serious health conditions 🏥.

I used to work as a car driver 🚐, and it was my only source of income. But today, after the war destroyed everything, I no longer have a way to earn a living. Now, I spend my time seeking help from social and humanitarian organizations, but unfortunately, I have not been able to find sufficient support to alleviate the harsh conditions we are going through. 🙏

Every day, I face bitter challenges; from securing food 🍞 and medicine 💊 for my siblings to dealing with their daily fears. My father, who was once our source of strength 💪, is no longer able to work, and my mother requires constant medical care due to her chronic illness 🩺. In this situation, I try to be the only hope for my family, but I am in desperate need of your help 🤝.

I am writing to you today because we are in a critical moment. We urgently need your support to get through this crisis 🚨. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a real difference in our lives 🌱 and can be the lifeline we need to survive this dark situation 🌑.

Please don’t let our story pass by without leaving your mark ✋. Your donation is not just support; it is the hope that gives us the strength to continue living with dignity ✨. We ask for your help with hearts full of hope and trust 💖 because we believe that someone out there can make a real difference in our suffering.

Be the hand that reaches out to us 🙌 and join us in building a new life for our family 🏡. Thank you for reading and caring, and may your support be the spark that brings us hope and stability 🔥.

gofundme.com

Donate to Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Hope: Hani's Journey, organized by Hani Yasser

Hope in the Face of Adversity: Supporting Hani to Rebuild Hi… Hani Yasser needs your support for Rebuilding the Homeland and Restoring Ho

🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉

With all thanks and appreciation,

Hani

🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉🇵🇸🕊🙏🍉

"Here are your tortured poets. All from Mahmoud Darwish to Dr. Refat Alareer to Khaled Juma, these are tortured poets. Tortured by longing for a home they can never return to, tortured by the world they were born to for BEING BORN. Palestine, home to the tortured poets department." [@/folkoftheshelf on X. April 20th, 2024.]