Transcript of online discussion on arabia.com (October 30)
Jamal Al Durra: I am here at the Hussein Medical center undergoing treatment and operations. I will start answering your questions now.
BBB: How are you feeling now?
Jamal Al Durra: My situation is bad. My pelvis is shattered, I can't move my right arm properly. I had 3 surgeries on my arm already. I also had operations on my elbows. After my muscles heal, they will operate on my fingers.
Samer4: Do you think that this Intifada is going to help the Palestinian people?
Jamal Al Durra: The continuation of the Intifida will eliminate the Zionists and retrieve Palestinian lands and rights.
Jongar: Is it true that the Israelis were really looking to kill the young boys by shooting on their heads?
Jamal Al Durra: The Israelis intend to kill children less than 16 years of age. So they won't grow up and build families. That is how they will annihilate the Palestinian people.
3oqla: How many bullets hit you if I may ask?
Jamal Al Durra: Eight bullets. There is one bullet remaining in my pelvis.
Wael*: Jamal.. Where were you going at the time of the crime?
Jamal Al Durra: I was leaving Gaza to go back home (Buraij Camp). We wanted to cross the road & take a car back to the camp.
basel: In the media they said it was cross shooting, is that right?
Jamal Al Durra: The area I was at with my son didn’t have cross fire. There was nobody there in that area, the shooting was aimed at us.
Hanthalla: How many bullets hit your son?
Jamal Al Durra: Four Bullets, The first in his right knee. I then called for help. My son told me that he wouldn't cry, that is when I raised my right arm to ask for help. They didn't stop firing at us, the gunfire increased. A bullet hit my right arm then I tried to protect Mohammad but bullets were coming from several locations. Soldiers were aiming at us. I tried to protect my son with my leg, Which was hit by bullets, that is when my pelvis was smashed, I used the cell phone to call the journalist Sami Ziara, he sent us an ambulance. The Israelis shot the ambulance driver Bassam Al Belbeisi dead. I called Sami Ziara again, and told him that the ambulance driver he sent us was killed. Sami told me that he was aware of the incident and that he sent us another one. The ambulance came, the driver couldn't reach us due to the heavy shelling. By then, my son was dead on my lap, I tried to protect him with and every part of my body but I couldn't. I was awake and aware of everything. I went to a hospital in Gaza, and the doctors nurses there thought I was unconscious so they were asking if anyone can identify me or Mohammad, I told them that I am completely aware of the situation, my name is Jamal Al Durra and this is my son the martyr Mohammad Al Durra.
ArabCanadian: Jamal do you have any idea how many soldiers were shooting at you and your son?
Jamal Al Durra: I couldn’t lift my head to count, bullets were flying in all directions above my head.
om ahmad: Mr. Durra How are Mohamed's siblings dealing with the loss of their brother? Are they getting any counseling?
Jamal Al Durra: Mohammad has 7 brothers & sisters, their psychological situation is really bad. They always ask about Mohammad, I don’t know what to tell them. I didn’t see my son when he was buried, nor did I see my other children since then. They are arriving on Tuesday to Amman.
NaDeEm: WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE ISREALI CLAIM THAT YOU AND YOUR SON WERE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE?
Jamal Al Durra: It wasn't Israel that stated that. Madeline Albright was the one who came up with that claim. The area we were in was vacant. Israelis were shooting constantly for 45 minutes aiming at one location, and that is where we were hid.
Dina: did the Israeli army ever apologize for the killing of your son "god rest his soul"?
Jamal Al Durra: They didn't approach in any way, I asked for an international trial, but Clinton rebuffed it. And threatened to use the right of VETO. female.....24: Jamal what do you think Arab 48 should do to help u in west bank?
Jamal Al Durra: The Intifida should continue in the 48 & 67 lands. Also in the PNA territories, because the continuation of the Intifada is a liberation process for us.
MemeIraqia: what do you think of Yasser Arafat’s situation? Please answer!
Jamal Al Durra: Arafat's position is a peaceful one, he always seeks peace. But Israel always betrays the deals and the decisions of the security council and sends its jets and tanks into Palestinian camps to kill people and children. And they consider themselves facing a formidable force (Palestinian Stones).
THE STAR: are you satisfied by the role of the Arab countries at the Intifada... is it enough that they send food and medicine, or you think that the only good thing they have to do is to start the war against Israel?
Jamal Al Durra: We thank the Arabs for supporting the Intifida with Money, food and Medicine. Naturally, we ask them to eliminate borders and send armed volunteers to fight the enemy. The USA will always be on the Israeli side, if Arabs don't unite we wouldn't be able to get rid of Israel.
khalid: Did any Arab leaders approach you?
Jamal Al Durra: Muammar Al Qaddafi and King Abdullah of Jordan, also Delegations from different Arab countries visited me on behalf of their leaders.
Same: What do you like to say to the Arabs leaders?
Jamal Al Durra: I call upon the Arab leaders to take the necessary steps to stop the Israeli invasion on the Palestinians and boycott all diplomatic ties with Israel.
sam112: Are you satisfied with the enormous media coverage concerning your case and the death of your son or do you consider it something personal and should not be discussed internationally?
Jamal Al Durra: This is not personal, it is the case of the Palestinian people, a whole nation. The media coverage that took place showed a small fraction of the terrorism that Israel is practicing against Palestinians. Now the whole world can see what the Nazis are doing and be aware of their repression practice.
*SELENA*: Mr. Durra, with all great respect, I know that you are in terrible grief. A loss of a child or loved one is a terrible experience. I wanted to know from today on forward, since the Clinton administration rebuffed your plea, are you going to go through any other channels for the honor of your son? And if so what are those means? Again, my deepest apologies...May God bless you and your family
Jamal Al Durra: I will try all possible means, I will not forget or forgive. I wasn't shocked when my son died, it is not his case alone, it is every single person's case in the Palestinian nation. Recently, a little girl was leaving school with a backpack on her back, she was shot dead by Israelis. These atrocities happen daily, my tragedy was caught on camera and theirs wasn't.
ROHI LE FALASTIN: What do you think us Arabs and Muslims in Europe and the rest of the world can do to help??
Jamal Al Durra: Arabs in US and Europe, should pressure US into applying UN resolutions to Israel. The Security Council's resolutions were applied to Arab countries like Iraq but never to Israel, WHY? It astonishes me, especially that the US can see what the Israelis do to our children and people.
falastinieh: Are you having the right treatment in Amman?
Jamal Al Durra: Yes, everybody has been great, medical staff, Government, and the people.
Ali: how long are you going to stay in hospital?
Jamal Al Durra: 6 Months to one year, I will be undergoing many surgeries throughout this time period.
Hanthalla: I am sorry for such a question. Do you think your son's death (Ra7mat Allah 3ale) has changed many things in your life such as your view towards politics?
Jamal Al Durra: Mohammad is neither the first martyr nor the last, my view towards life was altered long time ago.
THE STAR: After what happened, do you have any idea in your mind that peace is still possible?
Jamal Al Durra: Peace is war and the elimination of Israel. They started the aggression by bombing civilians' houses.
dameer: tell us more about Mohammed? His life? How was he in school? ur relation with him? His mother's relation with him?
Jamal Al Durra: I raised my children properly, I treated them as friends more than a father. I love them and care for them very very much. Mohammad was a courageous boy, he hated injustice. He respected everybody, he was mature for his age. He had a strong mentality, he was not shy. He loved to play, and he adored the sea. He loved picnics and spending times with his family. He was a very generous boy, he shared everything he had and owned. His teachers admired him.
UpRiser: what dreams did he have for his life?
Jamal Al Durra: He wanted to become an engineer or a doctor.
basel: there are many Israelis looking at your answers now what would u like to tell them?
Jamal Al Durra: They are not worth my answer.
Dream: did you consider forming a pressure group for the parents who lost their children in order to take your case to the whole world?
Jamal Al Durra: I urge everybody to ask for their rights from Israel; through an international court.
RAHIM: what do you think of the current events, like the entry of Israeli tanks in Gaza?
Jamal Al Durra: They penetrate Gaza with tanks, and we penetrate them with stones.
x-con: if you went back in time, what would you actually do to your son?
Jamal Al Durra: Mohammad is dead, and there is nothing we can do.
Jamal Al Durra: I blame the US government for not taking any action to convict Israel for their atrocities against unarmed civilians, and I blame Albright , the wicked witch, who said that the death of my son was not intentional. I have one question for her, 45 minutes of aimed fire at me and my son was not intentional? She was dancing with the Japanese children while the Palestinian children were being slaughtered. I convict the online Israeli media for putting a Jewish hat on my head and the head of my son, as if to reverse roles. Israel claims that Arafat pushes our children into resisting the Israelis, Arafat didn't ask anybody to do that. It is an inner motive for every Palestinian to fight against Sharon who desecrated our holy sites with the blessings of Barak. Palestinian people with motives gave birth to the Palestinian Intifada, not because Arafat asked for it, because they are bored of occupation and injustice.
I thank arabia.com for giving me this chance to speak out. Peace be
upon you