More than $950,000 raised for Palestinian student paralyzed after being shot in Vermont

On November 25, three Palestinian college students, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, were shot in Vermont. Hisham Awartani was left paralyzed from the chest down due to a bullet lodged in his spine.

These three childhood friends, originally from the West Bank, were visiting Hisham Awartani’s relatives in Burlington for the Thanksgiving break. They were on their way to Hisham’s grandmother’s house for dinner when the unprovoked shooting occurred.

All three students sustained serious injuries, with Hisham Awartani being paralyzed and the others also requiring medical treatment. Kinnan Abdalhamid was released from the hospital last week.

Yes, authorities are investigating the shooting as a possible hate crime. The young men were speaking in a mix of English and Arabic, and two of them were wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves at the time of the shooting.

The suspected gunman, Jason J. Eaton, aged 48, was arrested the following day at his Burlington apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and is currently being held without bail.

Hisham Awartani, who speaks seven languages, is pursuing a dual degree in math and archaeology at Brown University. He is determined to start the next semester on time despite his injuries.

More than $950,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page set up by his family to support Hisham Awartani’s recovery and medical expenses. Donations can be made to assist in his rehabilitation and ongoing care.