In the land of Egypt, which has become a deceptive haven for Gazans, a
grim reality unfolds: 2.3 million innocent souls are being forcibly pushed by
the Israelis towards a modern-day Exodus to Sinai. Among them stands Mohammad
Awad Al Kafarneh, a witness to the harrowing live broadcast of his people's
massacre—a sight that shattered his world. From his vantage point, a reluctant
exile, he observed his cherished neighborhood, "Bait Hanoun," reduced
to a wasteland, burying not only his loved ones but also erasing every fragment
of memory tied to his home—the familiar streets, the comforting trees, and even
the pathways leading to the city he cherished and was willing to defend with his life.
اضافة اعلان
Kafarneh, a 24-year-old born in what has been deemed the world’s largest
open-air prison, is a victim of something even more oppressive than a prison—a
harsh occupation. He lives a mere 350 meters from the segregation wall.
In an ironic twist of events, Mohammad found himself seeking 'freedom' as he
left Gaza for Egypt, but not for leisure. Instead, he embarked on a journey for
medical treatment due to a vision impairment. The
blockade had Gaza in its
grip, denying its people essential resources. This compelled Mohammad to
mobilize funds from family, friends, and relatives to access the medical care
he desperately needed.
Despite the immense suffering, his spirit for a homeland prevails, he says "We love life, we want to live, but if they want us to die, we will die for our land."
His departure for medical help in
Egypt coincided with the eruption of war in Gaza, forcing him into a heart-wrenching
situation: remote, disconnected, and witnessing the harrowing atrocities from
afar. The airstrikes claimed the lives of more than 18 of his family members
and four of his friends, shattering his reality and leaving him in profound
grief. His home lay in ruins, and the prospect of returning seemed futile, for
what would he return to? No house, no friends, and the graves of his beloved lost
in the mayhem.
Despite the immense suffering, his spirit for
a homeland prevails, he says "We love life, we want to live, but if they
want us to die, we will die for our land."
The tenuous connection with the outside world
plunged Mohammad into a bleak and isolated existence. The painful realization
that communication was severe underscored the sheer brutality of war, leaving
him in agonizing uncertainty.
Regrettably, Mohammad's family bore the
weight of unfathomable losses, including the deaths of both his uncles,
Mohammad Ali Al Kafarneh and Hassan Ali Al Kafarneh, alongside their
children—Ali Mohammad, Mosbah Mohammad, Yousef Hassan, and Fatmeh Hassan. The
aftermath left his aunt reeling from the devastating loss of her entire family,
her husband, and the grievous injury of losing a leg and a stroke. Amid this
calamity, Mohammad’s sister Mariam managed to survive, along with her three
children, one of whom suffered severe facial burns.
Under the coercive directions of Israel,
Kafarneh’s family was compelled to flee Bait Hanoun, scattering in different
directions—his uncles sought refuge in Shik Radwan while another branch of the
family found shelter in Jabalia. Yet, another tragedy struck on October 16 when
an Israeli airstrike, unannounced, targeted the building where his uncles and
another family resided on the sixth floor.
During this upheaval, Kafarneh’s sister
sought shelter at a UNRWA School. On October 18 despite warnings issued by the
Israeli army, doubts lingered among the refugees regarding an attack on a
school housing displaced individual. Unexpectedly, the UNRWA staff evacuated,
leaving the refugees vulnerable. The subsequent strike by the Israeli Air Force
on all neighboring houses of the school on October 20 compelled his family to
migrate south. In the midst of this chaos, Suhail, a dear friend, brother, and cousin
who Kafarneh had entrusted to collect funds for him, tragically lost his life
in an Israeli strike on the "Trance Area" Market, leaving Kafarneh
isolated and bereft.
His departure for medical help in Egypt coincided with the eruption of war in Gaza, forcing him into a heart-wrenching situation: remote, disconnected, and witnessing the harrowing atrocities from afar. The airstrikes claimed the lives of more than 18 of his family members and four of his friends, shattering his reality and leaving him in profound grief. His home lay in ruins, and the prospect of returning seemed futile, for what would he return to? No house, no friends, and the graves of his beloved lost in the mayhem.
The grim sequence of losses continued
relentlessly. On October 25 Kafarneh lost another cousin Amani, her husband,
and children, were tragically killed. This included the tragic loss of his
cousin, Mohammad Basem, along with his wife and all their children. Sadly, one
of the children suffered the horrific fate of being beheaded. The devastating
news of the death of his cousin's wife's entire family, approximately 50
individuals in Khan Younis, struck on October 26. The following day, on October
27 Kafarneh received the heart-wrenching news of the loss of his dear friend
Ahmad Mousa Shabat, followed by the passing of his classmate, Amjad Mohammad
Athamnah on October 28.
And then, to make isolation feel even
more…
isolating, all communication with Gaza abruptly ceased. After five days of
isolation, Kafarneh finally managed to reconnect with his mother, only to
receive distressing news on November 1—his university friend "Sayel"
and his entire family were tragically killed. Sayel, a vibrant and aspiring
young man, met a tragic and untimely end.
And the loss goes beyond, as many Gazans try
to deal with the loss of loved ones and dear friends, the buildings in which
memories were built are all perishing in real time. His alma matter Al Azhar
University now turned into rubble, now gone. As a graduate student of law,
Kafarneh once ardently believed in the principles of international law and
human rights, placing his faith in the ideals propagated within academic
circles.
Yet, the distressing events unfolding in Gaza
have shattered his convictions, leaving him standing at a crossroads of belief.
The stark contrast between the rhetoric of international law and the grim
reality faced by Palestinians has rattled Kafarneh’s foundational beliefs,
exposing the gaping chasm between theory and the grim actualities on the
ground.
The glaring disparity in treatment, the lack
of equitable attention, and the apparent dismissal of Palestinian lives in the
face of ongoing conflicts have left him questioning the integrity and sincerity
of the international laws and human rights he once held dear.
To this day, Kafarneh remains in Egypt,
isolated from his family. Each day presents a daunting task as he tries to
piece together his family's existence, constantly on the move, seeking safety
in places that swiftly become targets. In Gaza, there seems to be no refuge, no
secure haven.
Abdullah Habahbeh is an aspiring Jordanian author, op-ed columnist, and
content creator based in Aqaba, Jordan. His passion for writing started as a
hobby and soon became a professional. Currently, he is a digital creator, and
blogger, contributing to his personal blog (theinklicist.com)) and has
successfully managed to self-publish his first short book in both Arabic and
English.
Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not necessarily reflect Jordan News' point of view
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