Here’s an update on Ismael Khatib and the three children featured in the film whose lives were saved by Khatib’s decision to donate his son’s organs. Ahmed’s organs were donated to six people in total, including the three pictured below, plus an Israeli woman and teenage girl who chose not to appear in the film, and eight-month-old Osher, who did not survive the transplant.
Ismael Khatib
After the death of his son Ahmed, Ismael Khatib opened the Ahmed Khatib Center for Peace to provide children from the Jenin refugee camp with an alternative to life on the streets. A filmmaking course became one of the center’s most popular programs, but there was no place to show the films that the children produced.
With the help of Heart of Jenin filmmaker Marcus Vetter, Khatib launched an effort to restore and reopen Cinema Jenin, a movie theater that had been closed since 1987, to provide such a venue.
The children at the center have already started rebuilding the cinema. They hope to show their first films in the new theater later this summer. Click here to see some of their films.
Samah Gadban
Samah is now in 10th grade at the local high school in her small village of Pkiin in northern Israel. She still has routine checkups at the same hospital, the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petah-Tikva, but has not had any major complications from the heart transplant and continues to be healthy and strong.
Mohamed Kabua
Mohamed is now in 2nd grade at a school in his Bedouin village in the Negev Desert in Israel. He remains a very active boy, helping his father on their farm and in their small rural home.
Menuha Rivka Levinson
Menuha Rivka is now in 2nd grade in Jerusalem. She has occasional check-ups at the Hadasa Ein-Karem Hospital in Jerusalem, but remains healthy.
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As Anne Frank said, “I believe that all people are basically good.” The father of the boy did a wonderful thing. The soldier mourns for the death of the boy. The Israelis want peace; not war where child and innocents die. When those in the Arab world who want to see the destruction of the sovereign State of Israel the violence will stop. The Israelis want more than anything to sit down at the table and carve out a meaningful peace. Shalom, Saalam
This was such a wonderful act!God Bless Ismael Khatib and may peace live among these nations.
The world will always be a better place with more beings like Ismael Khatib.
I had tears in my eyes the whole show, my hearts goes to Mr. Khatib, GOD bless him. As an Israeli Palestinain I know for a fact the majority of both sides want peace. I just pray for peace, It’s so sad and heart breaking to see this madness in one of the most beautiful places in the whole globe. Peace, shalom, Saalam.
What a magnificent film and incredible story. If we reach into ourselves, we can all connect with our compassion. This film reinforces again for me that we all have so much more in common than not — that we are one and the same.
This is a remarkable documentary. I hope the producer will get permission by all parties to enter this very special,(if it has not been done yet) magnificent show in film festivals. It deserves international kudos and recognition.
Remarkable indeed. I too hope that the film get recognition worldwide. Toronto Film Festival is a great place to premier the film.
The film is noteworthy for showing, from the father’s perspective, how to turn a tragedy into an opportunity to give life to other children; that children are the main victims in this conflict–all the needless loss of young life on both sides is a constant reminder of the failure of adults to compromise for the sake of their children’s future. This film gives us hope that there are rare occassions where the human spirit triumphs over political and religious expectations
This was a great documentary. Raw. If only you could remove the barriers and all the children could play together.
Susan Desmond: To date Israel has not stopped their illegal settlements in the West Bank or the blockade of regular aid to Gaza. It is one thing to say that you want peace but actions are so much nicer. This man has made an important action that he wants peace. It is for the rest of us to follow his action.
Israeli Army makes shirts promoting the killing of Pregnant Palestinian Women in Gaza http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QesYVHBsGFE
Holocaust Survivor Protests Israeli Massacre in Gaza http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaDGHB_pB5s
Kidnapping human rights workers by Israel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-g0xtN_DdY
This documentary really moved me. Mr. Khatib is a wonderful man and, like other reviewers, I had a tear in my eye through much of the documentary. I also commend Samah and her family for recognizing what an unbelievable gift they received. I am wondering now if there is a way to donate to Mr. Khatib’s school? I will keep browsing for an answer…