Since Friday March 30, Palestinians have organized Peaceful protests as a part of the 42nd anniversary of Land Day close to the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip which is under Israeli blockade.

Israeli soldiers are shooting at civilians, demanding to “return to their land from which they were exiled and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza”, using live ammunition. Since the beginning of the protests in Gaza close to the Israeli border, 36 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3.500 protesters have been injured by Israeli soldiers.  One of the injured was Mariam Abu Matar, a 16 year old orphan girl who lives in the Gazan city Rafah.

“If she was brought here a day later…”

Mariam Abu Matar, who lost her father when she was just 3 years old and was sponsored in Gaza as a part of the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation’s Orphan Sponsorship System, was shot in the leg as a result of Zionist Israel’s military opening fire on civilians on the first day of the protests. Abu Matar, who was shot although she had no weapon of any kind, was given initial treatment in Gaza, but was later transported to Turkey because the treatment there was inadequate. 

Abu Matar, who was transported to Turkey with her family by the efforts of IHH, was taken from Ataturk Airport to a private hospital by ambulance where her treatment is continuing. Referring to Abu Matar, who was operated on immediately by doctors experienced in this field, officials said “If she was brought her a day later, this orphan from Gaza would have lost her leg.”

Currently, the condition of Mariam Abu Matar who underwent a 7 hour operation, is improving. Abu Matar’s treatment is being sponsored by IHH’s Domestic Emergency Aid Unit.

Before she was shot by Israeli soldiers, Abu Matar was training as a hafiz (memorizer of the Qur’an) in Gaza.

The Great Return March

Palestinians, who justifiably began their protests called the “Great Return March”, plan to continue these protests until May.