On June 9th, 2006, the Ghalia family was severely hit in an Israeli

attack, during a picnic on the Gaza beach. The incident received

worldwide attention mostly due to the horrifying video footage taken

minutes later of devastated Huda Ghalia (11 y.o.) next to the dead body

of her father, Ali (43 y.o.).

In the attack, 7 family members were killed (Ali 43, his wife Raisa 36,

their children: Haytham 8 months, Hanadi 2, Sabrin 7, Ilham 17, Alia

24) and 7 more were injured (Hamida, Amane 22, Ayham 17.5, Adham 12,

Huda 10, Hadil 6, Latifa 4). The family has already been hit in the

past as result of the ongoing Israeli shelling into civilian

neighbourhoods of the densely populated Gaza strip. On January 4th,

2005, an Israeli shell killed 8 and injured 5 in the family's

strawberry field. Nine of the 13 were members of the family.

The family has literally lost everything: most of the working men are

either dead or injured, enormous amounts of money are being spent daily

on the medical treatment and on the special needs for the many wounded

and handicapped, and the family agricultural land is inaccessible due

to repeated bombings.

All of these are in addition to the general situation in Gaza, which

include constant closure by air, sea or land, lack of electricity

during most of the day, inadequate medical care and medical supplies,

lack of food and more.

We urge you to help the family as the financial situation is desperate

Although the wide media attention around the beach catastrophe and a

great deal of promises for assistance from all over the world - up

until today no money at all was given. Not even to cover the ambulance

expenses for transferring the wounded to Israeli & Egyptian hospitals

for emergency life saving operations. The expenses are listed below.

How to Donate

By Checks:

Made payable to Yaacov Manor

P.O.Box 1335, Kfar Saba 44113, Israel

Bank Transfer:

Hapoalim Bank, Branch 679, Account 119442

Swift # Poalilit 000000119442

We'd appreciate it if you also notify

us by email when making a donation

For any question regarding donations, their purpose or getting in touch

with the family, please don't hesitate to contact by:

* ghaliafamily [at] gmail.com

+972-52-3604814 (Ronnie)

a few words about us: We are close friends of Ramadan Ghalia and the

rest of the family. This call for donation is being passed across on

behalf of the family and by their request. The situation in Gaza does

not allow this initiative to be directly carried out from there.

Summary of expenses paid for by the family:

* $2500 - Ambulance fees.

* $1000 - Treatment in Egypt of 3 of the wounded.

* $100/day per person - Rehabilitation treatment for each of the

wounded. Some are expected to need over 6 months of treatment!

* Very high costs, amount unknown - Further operations abroad.

* Living expenses for those who are unable to work, their family

members and the orphans.

Summary of the injured & their injuries:

* Hamida, the family mother. Acute hand injury.

* Amani, 23 and mother of 2. One hand amputated and severe internal

injury.

* Ayham, 17½. Severe injuries in legs, abdomen, shoulder and hand.

* Adham, 12½. Facial, abdomen and multiple knee injuries. Requires

operation and rehabilitation abroad on his injured leg.

* Huda, 10. Injured in leg.

* Hadil, 6. Severe neck injury. Lost both her parents and staying with

her step mother and the remaining step brothers and sisters.

* Latifa, 4. Head and leg injuries.

* Aysa, 13. Son of Ramadan Ghalia, injured during the 2005 attack. Both

his legs were amputated, went through several operations and long

hospitalization in Gaza, Israel and Iran.

(All those severely injured require rehabilitation for prolonged

periods of time in order to get back some operational skills of the

limbs. Most of them will need further treatment including several

operations abroad, which needless to say are costly)

"Last year, Jan 4th 2005, my son was hit by IDF shelling in a family

strawberry field. He was 12 years old at the time. Four of my nephews

were killed in this attack. Both of my son's legs were amputated. He's

been hospitalized for 17 days in Gaza, 2 more months in Jerusalem and 4

more months in Iran, where all attempts made to install prosthesis for

him have failed.

Recently, on June 9th 2006 the Gaza beach was shelled. My brother, his

wife and 5 of their children were killed. Among them were 7 wounded

family members, 4 of which are currently hospitalized in Egypt, 2 in

Beer-Sheva and one in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Ayham, my niece who is

hospitalized here in Tel-Aviv, is treated in the Intensive Care Unit

since June 10th and until this day.

Here I am at the Tel-Aviv hospital for the past 3 months, while my 12

children + 7 of my brother's children who have survived are in Gaza and

under my responsibility. I cannot stay here any longer after taking

care of Ayham for the past 3 months and there is no one who will take

care of my family and the ones dependent on me.

I have no water at home, no electricity, nothing. They have destroyed

my house, my family and my life."

Ramadan Ghalia (Abu Fathi)

8 Sep 2006

Ramadan is brother of the deceased Ali Ghalia and eldest remaining

brother of the family. He is now responsible for sustaining the lives

of 3 families (his own, his brother's and his niece's)



Links to further information and pictures are online here:

http://ghaliafamily.brinkster.net

~ Thank You, Shukran!



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Thank you for your continued interest and support for the International Solidarity

Movement!

Please consider a financial donation to help continue the important work of the ISM.

You may donate securely online at our website:

http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/donations

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