“Silwan is a child who is a witness to all of this violence” — Qutaibah Odeh, Silwan’s uncle
Silwan from Silwan
Silwan, 9, loves to dance traditional Palestinian debka.
She lives in the Silwan area of Jerusalem, and is named after her neighborhood.
“Silwan is a child who is a witness to all of this violence,” says her uncle, Qutaibah Odeh, referencing recurrent detentions and attacks by Israeli forces or settlers in the area.
“We try to calm her, to say ‘they are just settlers, don’t be afraid.’ But her own mother, a doctor, was arrested for being politically active on Facebook.”
Silwan’s family is active in protesting such policies. Qutaibah, 27, is a social worker, credited with Palestinian protests in Silwan. Everyone should be safe in their home.