GAZA, 8 August — Karimah Sharakah, known as Um Nader, heads a group of Palestinian youths who participate daily in the fight against Israeli occupation forces.
An Egyptian, Um Nader married a Palestinian and then moved to the West Bank camp in Al-Jalzoun, near Ramallah.
Um Nader says that it was in the camp that she learned what it meant to be a refugee, how much the Palestinians suffer, and about the reality of occupation and torture.
She also became convinced that the intifada is the only way to stop the occupation. “I am just like any mother, who dreams of a better life for her children,” she remarks. “I am a mother of six children. One was killed by the Israeli forces; another is in jail; a third has been injured three times; and my husband has lost his job.
“I will never forget how doctors were pumping my blood directly into my now-dead son to try and save him from his injuries — but all in vain.
“I have become convinced that it is impossible for the Palestinians to coexist with the Zionists, to live with the occupation and forget the atrocities perpetrated by the Israelis.
“As an Arab mother, I feel it is my duty to participate in the struggle to end the occupation by defending and mobilizing children.
“In confronting the occupation forces, I have become a different person. Now I spend my time helping give first aid, mingling with crowds, and throwing stones. I have been seriously injured many times.
“The Israeli solders now recognize me and have tried on countless occasions to run me over with their armored vehicles.
“The group I lead consists of girls and boys who feel empowered by being by my side during confrontations. The Israeli solders are aware that I can throw large stones about 30 yards, and they remember when I knocked a solider down.
There have been many such incidents that I am proud of. For example, one evening we were about to leave the place we had been gathering.
We were all tired from confronting the Israelis all day long, but all of the sudden a military vehicle approached us at high speed with the purpose of trying hit anyone at the scene. All the youths fled, except one, who fell to the ground.
Looking back to make sure everybody else had got away, we saw the military vehicle heading in his direction, so I hurled stones to divert its destination.
At the same time, I ran to the boy on the ground, reached him and dragged him. He was almost beneath wheels, and I was hit by the military car. I was just glad to have saved his life.”
About her role in the intifadah, she said: “I am not only a fighter. I perform first aid, fetch stones, water and food for the youths. I always carry a bag full of onions, perfume and cotton patches and distribute so people can overcome the effects of the tear-gas grenades.”
