Israel robbed my uncle of his freedom and his eldest son

Muhammad Abu al-Ouf was bright and ambitious. (Photo courtesy of family)

My uncle Maher Abu al-Ouf spent 20 years behind Israel’s bars.

When he was eventually released, Maher was in his late thirties and wanted to form a family as soon as he could.

His first child – named Muhammad – was bright and ambitious. After leaving high school, Muhammad opted to study medicine.

Israel’s genocidal war against Gaza caused great upheaval for the family.

Displaced from their home in the north, they took shelter with friends in Nuseirat, central Gaza.

During the evacuation journey, Muhammad’s sister Fatoon fell from a donkey-drawn cart and dislocated her right shoulder. With the healthcare system under attack and doctors forced to prioritize the most urgent cases, Fatoon was unable to have the treatment she required.

The family decided to remain in Nuseirat even though it was repeatedly bombarded by Israel. Because of Fatoon’s injury, they felt it was necessary to be in a house rather than a tent.

The family stayed in the same house after their original hosts left Gaza for Egypt. They would share the building with the Ghurab family.

Both families developed a deep sense of camaraderie.

Early one morning last week, the two families were trapped in the house. Israeli troops were surrounding them from all sides.

The families did everything they could to remain still and silent, keeping the lights switched off.

The caution they exercised proved inadequate to save them from Israel’s extreme violence.

Around 4 am, the Israeli soldiers fired a shell at the lower level of the house.

It hit the area where members of the Ghurab family were staying.

Muhammad insisted on seeing if he could help that family, although his father begged that he remain where he was.

As Muhammad headed to the lower part of the building, the Israelis fired another shell, killing him.

It emerged that seven members of the Ghurab family had been killed in the attack. Muhammad was buried with them in Nuseirat.

For many years, Israel robbed my uncle Maher of his freedom. Israel has now robbed him of his eldest son.

Death in a sister’s arms

Laila al-Farani has been my friend for many years. She lived in al-Saftawi, an area of northern Gaza.

In the early stages of the genocide, Laila and her family tried to remain in their home. Israel’s airstrikes against many houses in their neighborhood caused them to evacuate and head for the south during November last year.

To evacuate, the family walked a long distance on foot.

When they reached a military checkpoint, the Israelis took two of Laila’s brothers into detention. It would be two weeks before they were released.

Laila and her family went to Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, where they took shelter with relatives.

When Israel invaded Rafah during May, the family moved to al-Mawasi, another part of southern Gaza.

Laila and her family had to flee her tent as Israel launched a major attack on the surrounding areas in mid-August. As they fled, the family realized that they had left their money behind them.