Organ donations bring hope after Jewish-Arab clashes

Yigal Yehoshua and Muhammad Mahammid Kiwan's families agreed to donate their organs after both died in Israel's communal violence, saving lives across conflict lines

Reuters|
PrintFind an error? Report us
A shared commitment to life after the deaths of a Jewish man and an Arab teenager in Israeli communal violence has brought a rare ray of hope that divisions can be bridged.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

    • While fighting Palestinian militants in Gaza this month, a shaken Israel grappled with an eruption of violence on city streets between Jews and the country's Arab minority.
    3 View gallery
    Friends and family members of Yigal Yehoshua, who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained in an attack by Arab lynchers in the mixed city of Lod, wear Jewish prayer shawls during the mourning period following Yehoshua's death, in Moshav Hadid, Israel May 23, 2021    Friends and family members of Yigal Yehoshua, who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained in an attack by Arab lynchers in the mixed city of Lod, wear Jewish prayer shawls during the mourning period following Yehoshua's death, in Moshav Hadid, Israel May 23, 2021
    Friends and family members of Yigal Yehoshua during the mourning period following Yehoshua's death, in Moshav Hadid, Israel May 23, 2021
    (Photo: Reuters)
    Yigal Yehoshua, 56, was killed by Arab rioters in the city of Lod, near Tel Aviv. Muhammad Mahammid Kiwan, 17, died in the northern Arab town of Umm al-Fahm during clashes with Israeli riot police.
    Yehoshua's family agreed to donate his organs. The Jewish man's kidney went to Randa Aweis, a 59-year-old Palestinian woman from Jerusalem, an outcome they warmly embraced.
    Kiwan's family also agreed that the Arab youth's organs should be transplanted to help others.
    Back at home making stuffed grapes, Aweis, who had waited years for a new kidney, said: "I was shocked. I was shocked. I was happy, but also shocked."
    3 View gallery
    Randa Aweis, who received a kidney donation from Yigal Yehoshua, who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained in an attack by Arab lynchers in the mixed city of Lod, looks on while standing in her kitchen at her home in Jerusalem May 26, 2021    Randa Aweis, who received a kidney donation from Yigal Yehoshua, who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained in an attack by Arab lynchers in the mixed city of Lod, looks on while standing in her kitchen at her home in Jerusalem May 26, 2021
    Randa Aweis, who received a kidney donation from Yigal Yehoshua looks on while standing in her kitchen at her home in Jerusalem May 26, 2021
    (Photo: Reuters)
    She said Yehoshua's wife, in tears, had spoken to her via phone video, telling her to "be healthy".
    "I hope there will be peace between (the) two sides," Aweis said.
    Yehoshua's brother, Efraim, said that "with God's help, we will meet her and her family and will rejoice together that she is healthier now.
    "I think that we may be a symbol of co-existence," he said, adding that "saving lives, no matter whose," was paramount.
    3 View gallery
    Mahmoud Mahammid Kiwan, father of Mumammad, a 17-year-old Arab citizen of Israel who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained during clashes with Israeli riot police, looks on as he stands inside a mourning tent at their home in Umm el Fahm, northern Israel May 24, 2021    Mahmoud Mahammid Kiwan, father of Mumammad, a 17-year-old Arab citizen of Israel who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained during clashes with Israeli riot police, looks on as he stands inside a mourning tent at their home in Umm el Fahm, northern Israel May 24, 2021
    Mahmoud Mahammid Kiwan, father of Mumammad, a 17-year-old Arab citizen of Israel who died after succumbing to his wounds sustained during clashes with Israeli riot police, looks on as he stands inside a mourning tent at their home in Umm el Fahm, northern Israel May 24, 2021
    (Photo: Reuters)
    In Umm al-Fahm, Muhammad Kiwan's father, Mahmoud, voiced a similar sentiment.
    "Thank God, there were six human beings who were in danger and they survived due to (my son's) organs, and I am proud of that," he said.
    "We wish them full recovery, whatever and whoever they are."
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""