YOUNG PALESTINIAN REPORTER GIVES DETAILS OF THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED AGAINST PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS

(JANNA JIHAD AYYAD WITH JOURNALISTS DURING A MEDIA BRIEFING IN DURBAN ON MONDAY, JULY 2 2018) By Subry Govender The atrocities being committed by the Israeli Government and its soldiers against the people of Palestine must be relayed to the world no matter the consequences.

(JANNA AYYAD ADDRESSING THE MEDIA IN DURBAN) This is the commitment of a 12-year-old Palestine reporter, Janna Jihad Ayyad, who has been informing the world since the age of seven about the shootings, killings, arrests, interrogations and brutalities experienced by the Palestinian people at the hands of Israeli security forces. The young girl, who is the world’s youngest registered journalist, was addressing the media in Durban on Monday, July 2 (2018) about the suffering of the Palestine people at the hands of the occupying Israeli forces. She took on the task of informing the world through the social media after two members of her family were killed by Israeli soldiers. She has more than 294 000 friends on Facebook from around the world. She is the guest of the South African human rights organisation, Shamsaan, which promotes social activism through the field of the arts. Shamsaan campaigns for a “more just, peaceful society” and the goal of an “alternative vision that enhances dialogue and contributes towards achieving the longed-for Middle East peace and greater tolerance throughout the world”. In addition to journalists, the media briefing was attended by the Ethekwini deputy mayor, Fawzia Peer; the South African Ambassador to Palestine, Mr A Suliman, and former Durban deputy mayor, Mr Logie Naidoo.

(JANNA AYYAD WITH MS NADIA MEER AND WAHEEDA, ORGANISERS OF THE YOUNG REPORTER'S VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA) Miss Janna Ayyad said the situation in Palestine was “very bad now” with all the atrocities being committed against the people, including hundreds of children. She played video clips of the atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people, including children. She also played a video clip of herself speaking out against the barbaric actions to Israeli soldiers. She said Israeli soldiers showed no mercy what so ever when “shooting, firing teargas, and arresting children”. She said more than 20 children from her village alone were currently in jail. “Really the situation is very bad now.” She gave details about how two of her cousins were arrested and interrogated by the Israeli security officers. “They were treated in the most brutal manner without any concern for their human rights,” she said. “What is tragic is that women suffer the most because they are not only arrested and interrogated but they also have to bear the burden of taking care of their families under trying conditions when their husbands are arrested. “We are being oppressed and brutalised but despite this, we will not give up. The Israelis are not going to stop us from speaking the truth and informing the world about what is going on. “We want to appeal to the world to propagate the freedom of Palestine. We will be free soon.”

The young reporter quoted South Africa’s first democratic president and freedom icon, Nelson Mandela, who said “South Africa will not be free as long as Palestine is not free.” The young reporter has embarked on her trip to South Africa to promote her Child Prisoners Fund, which takes care of the thousands of children who are in jail, left destitute and orphaned by the brutalities of the Israeli Government and its soldiers.

(JANNA AYYAD'S PRESS IDENTIFICATION CARD. SHE IS THE YOUNGEST REGISTERED JOURNALIST IN THE WORLD.) Ends – subrygovender@gmail.com July 2 2018