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Hind al-Husseini was a prominent Palestinian humanitarian, educator, and women's rights activist, best known for her efforts to rescue 55 orphaned survivors of the 1948 Deir Yassin massacre. After the massacre, which left at least 107 Palestinian villagers dead, al-Husseini found the children abandoned near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Realizing they had no homes to return to, she provided them with shelter and care, first in temporary spaces and later in her grandfather's mansion, which she transformed into an orphanage. This facility, renamed Dar al-Tifl al-Arabi (Arab Children's House), also became a school offering education to orphans and children from various Palestinian towns and villages. The Deir Yassin massacre occurred on April 9, 1948, when Zionist paramilitary forces attacked the Palestinian village of Deir Yassin, located near Jerusalem in Mandatory Palestine. At least 107 Palestinian Arabs, including women and children, were killed during the assault. The attack was primarily carried out by the Irgun and Lehi groups, with support from the Haganah and Palmach. Despite the village having entered into a non-aggression pact, the massacre took place, marking a pivotal event in the Nakba—the mass expulsion and displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. On the morning of April 9, Irgun and Lehi forces entered Deir Yassin from multiple directions. The attackers massacred villagers, including women and children, using firearms and grenades while systematically clearing homes one by one. Some villagers were taken captive, paraded through West Jerusalem, and executed. In addition to the killings, there were reports of looting, mutilation, and potential cases of rape. By the end of the operation, the entire population of Deir Yassin had been expelled, and the Haganah took control of the village. In 1949, the area was resettled by Israelis and became part of the Givat Shaul neighborhood. Born into the influential al-Husseini family in Jerusalem, Hind was a cousin of Palestinian military leader Abd al-Qader al-Husseini. She was an active member of social work organizations, joining student unions in the 1930s and later serving as headmistress of a girls' school in Jerusalem. In the 1940s, she became involved with the Arab Women’s Union, advocating for women’s rights and education. Following the Deir Yassin massacre in April 1948, al-Husseini dedicated herself to the care of orphaned children. She initially housed the survivors in two rooms rented by the Social Work Endeavour Society, a charity she led. Fearing for her safety in a war-torn city, the head of a nearby convent helped relocate the children there. After a ceasefire, she moved them to her grandfather’s mansion. Over time, Dar al-Tifl grew into a major institution, providing shelter, food, and education to hundreds of orphans, including some Jewish children who had been excluded from other schools. In addition to her work with orphans, Hind al-Husseini was a strong advocate for women's education and empowerment. In 1982, she founded the Hind al-Husseini College for Women, which furthered her commitment to female education and social work. Her lifetime of service was recognized with numerous awards, including the Jordan Globe Medallion for Social Work (1983) and the First Degree Medallion from Germany (1989). The Dar al-Tifl school, which remains active today, continues to serve Palestinian children, especially orphans, and is regarded as a symbol of al-Husseini's enduring legacy. The institution has expanded over the years, becoming a vital center for education, care, and community support. In recognition of her contributions, Hind al-Husseini’s life and work were dramatized in the 2010 film Miral, where actress Hiam Abbass portrayed her. Al-Husseini's unwavering dedication to the well-being and education of Palestinian children, particularly orphans, made her a pioneering figure in both Palestinian society and the broader Arab world. Copied and paraphrased from: “Hind al-Husseini.” Wikipedia. (Accessed January 8, 2025). “Deir Yassin massacre.” Wikipedia. (Accessed January 8, 2025).
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