Holy Land: Doctor, peace campaigner killed by Israeli forces

Hashem with his daughter

A Palestinian doctor who often welcomed Christian Peacemaker Teams and other peace groups into his family home, was killed yesterday, when he became overcome by teargas thrown by Israeli army. Hashem al-Azzeh was 54 years old.

His neighbour writes:

Just heard some very sad news. Our neighbour Hashem al Azzeh has died of tear gas inhalation. He had another heart attack in his house in Tel Rumeida. Local youth had to carry him down the hill and out the checkpoint to get him to an ambulance and to hospital as it is so very difficult to get ambulances in through the checkpoints.

Once in Bab a Zawiya he got caught up in the tear gas soldiers have been shooting at Palestinian youth all day and it proved fatal. He was a lovely man and a good friend. He has worked tirelessly at bringing international people and officials to Tel Rumeida and taking them on tours to explain the situation here.

He also did a lot for the local community association. He and his family live next to the settlement underneath the caravans next to Baruch Marzel's house. The have endured unbelievable suffering and persecution from the settlers but he always said: "They are welcome to live here if they could just behave themselves like normal people. They are welcome to share my olives if they would just stop stealing them."

The area around his house is protected with fences to stop the stones, rubbish and even a washing machine which settlers throw over the hill on top of this family. The day before yesterday he was threatened by a group of settlers with machine guns as he attempted to pick his olives. He was not able to pick olives himself as he has been very ill recently with a heart attack and was having trouble breathing. We miss him already. God bless him and his family. May he rest in peace.

Read more about Hashem here: www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=768426