QUARANTINE - DAY 46 - 20th April 2020
As we enter the week that will see the start of Ramadan, Muslims are preparing themselves for a month of prayer and fasting. But for this year for the first time, mosques will be closed across the world due to coronavirus - including Al-Aqsa compound in Jerusalem.
For anyone who missed the news - we will be holding a virtual coffee morning/cooking Palestinian bread class tomorrow Tuesday at 10am UK/12pm Palestine. I can email the ingredients and zoom link to anyone interested. Please email me at melissascott@hotmail.co.uk
Mohamed Abu Haniyeh reports:
"In the time of Covid-19" ... a friend told me that men were overwhelmed with emotion, when they saw the patient Layan Shaheen, in the National Rehabilitation Centre for treating the virus in Bethlehem.
Today, a group of people went to give Easter gifts to the patients of coronavirus in the Health Center treating coronavirus patients in Bethlehem. The nurses had to take the gifts and pass them on to the sick, while keeping their distance from them in order to keep everyone safe.
The first child to appear was Layan, the youngest in Bethlehem from the village of Al-Rattas. As soon as the child Layan came out of her room in the centre, all those present were shocked, and they felt pain and sorrow when they saw her.
Because of Layan's young age, all safety standards were broken - one of them jumped to give the gift to Layan, and another person went behind him towards Layan. The men became children when they were with her. Layan's words were like bullets that tore into everyone's hearts. Because of her words, we discovered that childhood is more powerful than bullets and bombs! These people lost their equilibrium when they saw how young she was. They forgot all the teachings of the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Health Authority.
Layan's youth shattered the significance of corona for them. For a few moments, they wanted to embrace and comfort her.
With this story, we will surely beat Corona. We wish her, and all the other patients, a speedy recovery. These men are strong, but being with Layan really affected them. If I could publish their names I would, but I promised them I wouldn't..."
tps://www.bethlehem-town.com/
Photo courtesy of Mohamed Abu Haniyeh
