A father’s tribute a decade after losing his daughters
On Jan. 16, 2009, an Israeli tank shelled my house during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, killing my three daughters, Bessan, 21, Manar, 15, Aya, 14, and my niece Nour, 17.
Over the past 10 years, I have struggled to bring my daughters justice. On Nov. 27, 2018, the Israeli court rejected my lawsuit for an apology so all may see the innocent human faces of my daughters.
As a Canadian citizen, I asked for the Canadian government to advocate for me. I sent appeals to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. No response.
I did not ask them to move the tanks, Canadian military troops, army and jets to fight Israel. I asked them to advocate and bring my daughters justice.
Canada and Trudeau advocated and granted asylum to Rahaf Mohammed, a Saudi teen who fled alleged family abuse. The story of this Saudi teen attracted worldwide attention. Canada was responsive to the United Nations request and granted her asylum.
Trudeau said Canada has been unequivocal about always standing up for human rights and women’s rights around the world. And Canada has been unequivocal. But will Canada and Trudeau stand up and advocate for human rights and women’s rights for Canadian citizens?
My daughters and my niece advocated for peace with Israel. They rejected violence and treachery. They neither hurt nor hated anybody. Yet, their hopes, dreams, and future plans were extinguished.
I have vowed to continue their message as a way of keeping their spirit alive and to help inspire people around the world.
Hear the voices of Bessan, Mayar, Ayah and Nour: Do not weep us Achieve our dreams Continue our journey we started I cannot say and will never say that they are dead, they are just away. They left quickly with cheery smiles. They left quickly, like lightning. Did not say a word of farewell. They have left, and we are in desperate need of them.
Death is not the end and can never be the end. Death is the road and we are travellers. Oh, Father, Uncle, do not weep for us We passed on and our names are eternal What did you do for us?
Today and every day, I tell them, “We do not weep for you, Bessan, Mayar, Ayah, and Nour.”
Rest in Peace, you are alive and will be kept alive. Your names that were once written in sand are now written in stone on the tomb.
Now is the time to say their names are written in the hearts and minds of people in this world.
Instead of saying behind every successful man, there is a successful woman, we need to say that alongside each successful man there is an equally educated and successful woman.
We can have no peace without justice for women, and no peace without respecting the human rights of us all. Establishing a safe, secure, just, and peaceful world is the function of women’s education and their role in the world. Just for a second, think of all the innocent children who have suffered, including my daughters and niece, as if they were yours. My family members’s deaths were not in vain.
In my book, I Shall Not Hate, I told my life story as a refugee in Gaza and my response to the tragedy that befell my family there. In that book, I affirmed that even after the killing of my daughters before my eyes, I refuse to hate.
I appeal to you to mediate and advocate to help reach reconciliation and a settlement of my case with the Israeli government.
I appeal to you to help me ensure that my daughters are seen as unique, vibrant individuals who have dignity and worth; give them a human face and affirm that this tragedy was not in vain.
I hope that you can come to support this human cause to show the world that peace and justice are possible, even in these difficult times.
Let us move forward with courage and good will.