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Mansour Shouman’s mother sent out another plea to Global Affairs, insisting her son was a humanitarian aid worker who should not be targeted by the Israelis
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A Calgary ex-pat who became an internationally known pro-Palestinian activist has gone missing in Gaza as Israeli troops advanced to where he’d been seeking refuge.
Family and associates of Mansour Shouman fear the man has been either killed or detained by Israeli forces who had begun besieging the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza when he was last heard from Jan. 21.
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In an email to Mideast diplomats and Global Affairs Canada, his mother Dr. Mai Hussein said she’s convinced her son would have contacted someone if he was at all able to, despite disruptions to communications in Gaza.
“We also believe that in 72 hours, despite what is happening in Khan Younis, and despite the communication blackout, Mansour would have found a way to at least let us know he is alive,” she wrote on Wednesday.
“We do believe that even if he was injured and conscious, he would find a way to at least let us know he is alive. This leaves us to believe that he is likely kidnapped by or taken and held somewhere.”
The Israeli military has been widely accused of severely abusing prisoners in the conflict, something the Israelis deny.
Shouman determined to help Gaza
Canadian citizen Shouman, 39, left Calgary in 2022 to be closer to family in Gaza — but a few weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory attack, his wife and five children left the coastal enclave and are now safe in Abu Dhabi.
But the logistics consultant and former Edgemont resident chose to stay, using his knowledge of English to help raise funds and food donations for needy Gazans, to provide updates on the war situation and to shore up Palestinian morale, which often included condemning Israeli actions.
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Shouman had become a familiar face among large media outlets with a global reach since the war began and provided daily social media updates about the state of the conflict, often from a spot in Nasser Hospital.
His mother said he’s helped collect $500,000 worth of cash and goods for Palestinians under Israeli blockade.
In his last communication on Jan. 21, a tired-looking Shouman spoke of enjoying a much-needed shower and said the area he was in was under constant Israeli artillery and air attack.
But he said Israeli forces had withdrawn troops and armour from his immediate vicinity.
“Nothing changes for us, we remain here, we remain steadfast,” he said in a video as explosions can be heard in the background.
On Thursday, Shouman didn’t respond to a query sent to his WhatsApp account he used to convey messages daily.
He’d told this reporter last October that he knew his life was in danger by staying but he was determined to remain in Gaza.
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After Hamas militants killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 240 captives in last October’s incursion, health authorities in Gaza say more than 25,000 people there have been killed, two-thirds of them women and children.
Shouman’s mother sent out another plea to Global Affairs on Thursday, insisting her son was a humanitarian aid worker who should not be targeted by the Israelis.
“My son is a Canadian volunteer working to help civilians with food, medicine and shelter, nothing (to do) with politics or military,” she said.
“People around the world trusted him and donated to support Gaza people … please find him and help to release him.”
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On Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada made a brief response to Hussein, saying they were looking into her concerns.
“Please note that we have shared this file with consular officials to provide assistance to you and your family,” they stated.
They also asked her for any contacts or social media coordinates that could aid in the search for Shouman.
In one of her emails, Hussein said some of her son’s associates indicated he was safe earlier this week while others said he’d left Khan Younis to go to Rafah on the Egyptian border, which is used as an exit point for those fleeing the conflict.
But Hussein said nobody has actually heard from or seen her son since last Sunday.
And she doesn’t believe her one left Khan Younis for Rafah.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn
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