AL-KHALIL, (PIC)
Barely had Mohammad Amjad Hadous (27 years old) rejoiced in the announcement of his engagement when his happiness turned into tragedy, and the celebratory ululations turned into wailing and lamentation.
In the Al-Aroub refugee camp north of Al-Khalil, where he was born and lived, Mohammad was unaware that the Israeli occupation army would deprive him of a future he had just begun to envision. He became a target of treacherous bullets that ended his life before it even began.
A dream killed before it could be realized
Mohammad grew up amid constant suffering, as life in the camp was never easy. He lived through incursions and arrests, yet he clung to hope, dreaming of building a new life away from oppression. He celebrated his marriage contract three days ago amidst the joy of family and loved ones, but a deadly bullet from a criminal Israeli soldier pierced Mohammad’s body before his happiness could be completed, stealing his future and transforming him from a groom into a martyr.
A mother waiting for joy … only to receive tragedy
His mother, who was accustomed to comforting the mothers of martyrs, found herself in the same position. On her way to the Beit Fajar health center, she tried to hold onto a thread of hope, but she was shocked by the reality upon her arrival—her son’s corpse laid before her. Instead of congratulating him on his marriage, she found him wrapped in a shroud.
She cried out amidst the crowds, “Yesterday you were a groom, and today you are being celebrated as a martyr?”
The departure of the support
After losing his father years ago, Mohammad became the pillar upon which his family relied. He took on responsibility from a young age and worked hard to support his mother and siblings. His brother Fuad described him as not just a brother but a father, friend, and support. His only dream was to have a simple and secure life.
Mohammad returned from Umrah ten days ago and was preparing to build his new home, but the occupation army had other plans. His uncle Taysir Rushdi said with bitterness, “All our youth are potential martyrs. Mohammad was not the first, and he will not be the last. The occupation steals our dreams, but it will not steal our will.”
A crime that recurs … and a determination that does not break
Activist Abdul Hai Jawabra affirmed that the occupation would not be able to kill the spirit of resistance in the camp, saying: “Mohammad is gone, but the banner will not fall. The camp remains despite the pain, and every martyr is succeeded by a new resister.”
Amidst an atmosphere of sadness and anger, large crowds attended Mohammad’s funeral from Al-Ahli Hospital in a grand military procession. His comrades carried him on their shoulders, taking the dirt paths leading to his family’s home, where he received a final farewell.
The scene was solemn; his mother’s tears, the cries of his siblings, and the shocked faces of friends all painted a painful picture of an unexpected farewell.
After praying for him, his body was laid to rest in the camp cemetery, next to his father whom he lost at a young age. Their meeting in life was brief, but they reunited once more in their final resting place.
One of his friends, who stood with his head bowed at the grave, whispered in a trembling voice, “Mohammad did not die. His spirit will continue to fill the alleys of the camp, and his image will remain engraved in our hearts.”
