BURLINGTON, Vermont – Kinnan Abdalhamid, one of the three Palestinian college students who were shot in Vermont over Thanksgiving weekend, recounted the harrowing experience of that day. Abdalhamid, along with his friends Hisham Awartani and Tahseen Ali Ahmad, all 20, were walking in Burlington, Vermont, when they were shot on November 25.

Abdalhamid described the moment when a man started shooting at them after they saw him standing on his porch looking away. He first shot Tahseen, then Hisham, and finally shot Abdalhamid while he was trying to escape. Abdalhamid hid in a backyard and realized that his phone was out of battery, so he headed to a nearby house to call for help. It was then that he felt a sharp pain in his backside, realizing that he had also been shot.

Fortunately, police arrived quickly due to a call made through Awartani’s emergency SOS button, likely saving their lives. Abdalhamid was shot in the glutes and was released from the hospital earlier this week. Tahseen was shot in the chest, and Hisham was shot in the spine.

Upon reuniting with his friends, Abdalhamid concluded that they had been targeted for speaking Arabic. The shooter, Jason J. Eaton, 48, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of second-degree attempted murder.

The shooting has sparked outrage in light of ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict and the rise in Islamophobia in the United States. Despite the trauma, Abdalhamid remains focused on the recovery of his friends and the plight of his people.

Abdalhamid urged for more attention to the protection of Palestinians and Arabs, emphasizing the importance of protecting all groups regardless of identity. He also expressed the need to address the surge in Islamophobia and protect those who follow the law.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and officials have not confirmed whether the shooting was motivated by hate. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Palestinians and Arabs in the United States.