Mother of Canadian journalist missing in Gaza speaks out

The mother of a Canadian-Palestinian civilian journalist documenting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza says she hasn’t heard from her son in more than a week and is fearing the worst.

Thirty-nine-year-old Mansour Shouman was visiting Gaza with his family when the war first broke out. His mother, Dr. Mai Hussein, says the father of five stayed there to help with humanitarian efforts.

Shouman frequently used social media platforms to shed light on how donated funds to Gaza were being used to build shelters, provide food and distribute sanitary, feminine hygiene and baby products.

His posts would often document the conditions that Palestinians faced and share updates on the latest attacks.

He was last seen at Nasser Hospital in Gaza on route to Rafah last Tuesday. That’s when his team says three eyewitnesses reported seeing Shouman being taken by Israeli Defence Forces.

WATCH MORE: UN top court orders Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza

While those allegations have not been confirmed at this time, Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that it is aware of one Canadian who is currently missing in Gaza and is in contact with his family.

The agency has refused to disclose further information about the missing Canadian, citing “privacy considerations.”

That however, is little comfort to his mother, who fears for her son’s health and safety.

“They starve them. They put them in the cold without clothes. They naked them. They make bare. They make them sit on the floor,” Dr. Hussein said in an interview with CHCH News Monday.

“The soldiers wearing so much clothes like this because it’s cold, and the prisoners are without any clothes, bare, with shorts and sitting blind. Their hands are tied and they are blind and on the floor in the cold.”

WATCH MORE: Hamilton man applies to bring his family from Gaza to Canada

As the days have continued on with no contact from Shouman, concerns from both his family and team have only grown.

Dr. Hussein, desperate to hear from her son, says she will go to any lengths to find him.

“If they can let me go there and look for him, I will go. If they can arrange for me to go to Gaza and Rafah, or to Israel and see my son, or look for my son, I will do it.”

His mother is asking for Canadians to write to the federal government and sign a petition demanding his immediate release.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 83 journalists have been killed and three remain missing since violence erupted on Oct. 7.