Magnificent Gestures

Here's one for you to think on:

The parents of a Palestinian boy killed by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank have donated his organs for use in Israel, in the hope of promoting peace.

Twelve-year-old Ahmed Ismail Khatib was shot in the town of Jenin by troops who mistook his toy gun for a real one.

His organs were transplanted into five Israeli children and a woman aged 58.

His father, Ismail, said saving lives was more important than religion, and added: "I feel that my son has entered the heart of every Israeli."

It's a horrible thing for these parents to have to live through, and a genuinely miraculous thing that they chose to respond as they did. One hopes it does make a difference, however small, beyond those who received the organs.

Written by johnmscalzi Blog about this entry

This entry has 7 comments: (Add your own)

#7 Comment from lurkynat
11/10/05 1:56 AM | Permalink

Dear John,
What a wonderful inspirational story! thank you!
natalie
#6 Comment from dougkeachie
11/9/05 9:52 PM | Permalink

Let's nominate Ismail Khatib and his wife for either "Man (Family) of the Year" or the Nobel Peace Prize. Make a Christmas card with their picture and their story and send it to everyone. More at www.farstars.blogspot.com.
#5 Comment from bedazzzled1
11/9/05 6:49 PM | Permalink

::frowning at the previous comment left:: I, for one, do not find it out of the realm of possibility that such an event actually took place. There ARE many, many decent and caring individuals in this world. I checked at Snopes.com to see if the story was fact or fiction, but I cannot find any reference to it. Seems to me that even with the horrendous bitterness and hatred between Protestants and Catholics in Ireland, true stories of genuine goodness that extended far beyond religious differences have taken place. And, no, I do not wear rose-colored glasses. So, until someone proves this story to be a hoax, I WILL believe that a family could turn their brutal heartache into something that benefited others.
#4 Comment from bbartle3
11/9/05 11:52 AM | Permalink

Going solely on what I know of the history
of the area since 1948 what you report seems utterly
impossible. So strange is this story it sounds a bit like a hoax,
a deadly hoax that could result in the murder of the Palestinian parents by strict, religious Palestinians. Or/& the parents are
so distraught they are suicidal and in an utter fury at the
trigger-happy goons who shot their child who was only carrying a toy.

This story needs to be researched. As is, it sounds
like sci-fi.

Barry
http://journals.aol.com/bbartle3/Vengeance/
#3 Comment from annalisa135
11/9/05 10:44 AM | Permalink

Thank you, John, VERY MUCH for posting this story.

I have a good friend who is a Palestinian refugee. I'm constantly praying for not only him and his family, but all the refugees and that somehow, someway a permanent solution may be reached over that whole situation. It is horrible to even THINK about how they live -- let alone for us to actually live that way. Some things are extremely difficult to imagine. We are SO MUCH more blessed than we realize.

If more Israelis AND Palestinians had these people's same love and mindset, OH what a different situation it would be!!!

Again, thank you for sharing this. It's much appreciated.

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Magnificent Gestures