Mansour Shouman’s mom despatched out one other plea to World Affairs, insisting her son was a humanitarian help employee who shouldn’t be focused by the Israelis
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A Calgary ex-pat who grew to become an internationally recognized pro-Palestinian activist has gone lacking in Gaza as Israeli troops superior to the place he’d been searching for refuge.
Household and associates of Mansour Shouman worry the person has been both killed or detained by Israeli forces who had begun besieging the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza when he was final heard from Jan. 21.
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In an e-mail to Mideast diplomats and World Affairs Canada, his mom Mai Hussein stated she’s satisfied her son would have contacted somebody if he was in any respect capable of, regardless of disruptions to communications in Gaza.
“We additionally consider that in 72 hours, regardless of what is occurring in Khan Younis, and regardless of the communication blackout, Mansour would have discovered a option to at the very least tell us he’s alive,” she wrote on Wednesday.
“We do consider that even when he was injured and aware, he would discover a option to at the very least tell us he’s alive. This leaves us to consider that he’s doubtless kidnapped by or taken and held someplace.”
Shouman decided to assist Gaza
Canadian citizen Shouman, 39, left Calgary in 2022 to be nearer to household in Gaza — however a number of weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory assault, his spouse and 5 kids left the coastal enclave and are actually secure in Abu Dhabi.
However the logistics marketing consultant and former Edgemont resident selected to remain, utilizing his data of English to assist increase funds and meals donations for needy Gazans, to offer updates on the struggle scenario and to shore up Palestinian morale, which frequently included condemning Israeli actions.
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Shouman had develop into a well-known face amongst giant media shops with a world attain because the struggle started and supplied every day social media updates concerning the state of the battle, usually from a spot in Nasser Hospital.
His mom stated he’s helped accumulate $500,000 price of money and items for Palestinians below Israeli blockade.
In his final communication on Jan. 21, a tired-looking Shouman spoke of having fun with a much-needed bathe and stated the world he was in was below fixed Israeli artillery and air assault.
However he stated Israeli forces had withdrawn troops and armour from his instant neighborhood.
“Nothing modifications for us, we stay right here, we stay steadfast,” he stated in a video as explosions could be heard within the background.
He’d instructed this reporter final October that he knew his life was in peril by staying however he was decided to stay in Gaza.
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‘A Canadian volunteer’: Mom pleads for assist
After Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 240 captives in final October’s incursion, well being authorities in Gaza say greater than 25,000 folks there have been killed, two-thirds of them ladies and kids.
Shouman’s mom despatched out one other plea to World Affairs on Thursday, insisting her son was a humanitarian help employee who shouldn’t be focused by the Israelis.
“My son is a Canadian volunteer working to assist civilians with meals, medication and shelter, nothing (to do) with politics or army,” she stated.
“Folks world wide trusted him and donated to assist Gaza folks … please discover him and assist to launch him.”
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On Wednesday, World Affairs Canada made a quick response to Hussein, saying they had been wanting into her issues.
“Please word that we’ve got shared this file with consular officers to offer help to you and your loved ones,” they said.
In addition they requested her for any contacts or social media coordinates that might help within the seek for Shouman.
In one in all her emails, Hussein stated a few of her son’s associates indicated he was secure earlier this week whereas others stated he’d left Khan Younis to go to Rafah on the Egyptian border, which is used as an exit level for these fleeing the battle.
However Hussein stated no person has truly heard from or seen her son since final Sunday.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn
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