Release Gaza’s innocent Humanitarian hero Mohammad al Halabi
by Khalil Al Halabi
I never expected that my eldest son, Mohammad Al Halabi would ever be held in an Israeli jail.
Ever since he was young, I raised my son to be a humanitarian person. I planted in him the seeds of tolerance and
accepting the other. I taught him and his siblings that violence doesn’t build nations and that respect of the other
builds up people and countries. I also encouraged him to be excellent in his studies and he was an exceptionally
accomplished student.
Whenever I would sit with him, I often shared with him stories about the importance of human values and how we need to
help people regardless of their religion, nationality or political background. I always said we need to help people in
need without asking questions. Mohammad’s character developed over the years based on these values and I was extremely
happy to notice how the term humanity became part of his vocabulary in life.
Days and years passed and my son received a BA in civil engineering but he told me he wanted to study nursing. I asked
him why and he said it was a profession in which one can make a humanitarian contribution. I told him that anything he
does will make have a humanitarian input because your humanity will be reflected in your work.
Fate had it that he got a job in a humanitarian organization, World Vision, which was working in Gaza. He was appointed
based on his merit by international directors who interviewed him.
Mohammad used the humanitarian values he had been brought on to work with cancer patients and to provide emotional
support to children in Gaza as well as farmers. He enjoyed his job and found himself in it and his humanity was
reflected with all those he worked with. He was insistent to help everyone in Gaza that was in need regardless of
religion or nationality.
He once told me that he was willing to help anyone including Israeli families if they needed help and he could help
them. This is why I never expected that his humanity which led him to be awarded in 2014 the humanitarian hero award by
the UN would land him in jail.
For four years in imprisonment and after 151 sessions in Israeli military courts, no evidence has been presented to
justify this unjust detention.
Needy Gaza families under siege have been denied the humanitarian aid that my innocent son working with World Vision was
making available and ensuring that their needs are met. My son Mohammad visited Australia before his arrest and he
engaged with parliamentarians there including Jewish MPs. Since his arrest they have expressed regret at his
imprisonment because they knew about his humanitarian efforts. They have sent letters of solidarity to his family.
We received similar letters from the US, Germany and Cyprus all supporting my son and his family.
This is the Mohammad al-Halabi the humanitarian hero that has been jailed and as a result cancer patient and their
families in Gaza have suffered even more.
Israel might be trying my son for his work with the people of Gaza but the world knows he is innocent and we are all
awaiting to see if the Israel courts will hand out justice in this case. They want him to confess to things he has not
committed and he says I will not accuse myself of things I have not done.
In addition to the UN’s humanitarian award Mohammad Al-Halabi was chosen the best employee of World Vision, he was
awarded the Galilee Gilled award.
I have no regrets about raising my son to be a humanitarian and will I proudly plead for his release because he is
innocent.
The Israeli district court will convene again Wednesday 18 November 2020, to determine the fate of my humanitarian son
who has done nothing wrong and has been a genuine humanitarian.
May justice and humanity win the day.