Mahmoud's killing wasn't just an attack on my family; it was a message. He wasn't a fighter... His only 'crime' was slowing the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza through tireless efforts to organize aid, deliver meals, and sustain those around him.
When the Israeli military ordered Palestinians in northern Gaza to flee south last October, our family chose to stay. They knew the history and the trauma of the Nakba too well and refused to be forcibly displaced again.
Mahmoud worked tirelessly to make life a little more bearable for everyone around him when so many would have given up. His determination exemplified the resilience and hope of his community.
In early 2024, Mahmoud called me excitedly about a vendor he found that was still selling cooked rice. A week later, Mahmoud called again: 'I'll just cook myself.' I wasn't surprised - he had always insisted.
Collection
[
|
...
]