GAZA, (PIC)
Amidst hope that diminishes with each passing day and anxiety that gnaws at the heart, the family of Abdul Aziz Izzat Juda (67 years old) continues to seek an answer to a single question: Where is Abdul Aziz?
In late September of last year, Abdul Aziz disappeared under mysterious circumstances north of the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp, an area that was then under the control of the Israeli occupation forces near the Martyrs’ Axis (Netzarim). Little did he know that his final journey there would turn into a tragic mystery haunting his family.
Details of the disappearance
On that day, Abdul Aziz was with another person near the electricity company north of Al-Nuseirat. Hours later, his companion was found dead, while Abdul Aziz vanished without a trace. All that remained of him were some personal belongings: his bicycle, his mobile phone, and his flashlight.
His niece’s son sadly states, “We searched for him everywhere, but there was no sign of him. We haven’t received any information about him since that day.” He adds that the family lives in a state of anxiety and anticipation, waiting for any news that might reveal his fate.
Abdul Aziz’s life before disappearance
Abdul Aziz was not a wealthy man; he lived a hard life. He did not have a stable source of income, relying on work in the fields, picking olives, or searching for any job that would provide for his daily needs and help him care for his family and grandchildren. His home was nothing more than a modest room made of asbestos sheets, offering no protection from the winter cold or the summer heat.
Despite the harsh living conditions, Abdul Aziz was a model of generosity. He would share with his neighbors and relatives what little he had, even if it was just a handful of fruits or a few loaves of bread. “He was simple in his life, but great in his humanity,” adds a relative.
The family’s pain and their final plea
For Abdul Aziz’s family, waiting was not just about passing days; it was a renewed pain with every moment. The absence of news means that the suffering remains suspended in the air, with no certainty to ease their hearts.
“We want to know his fate, even if it means accepting sad news. At least we can close this wound,” the family says, appealing to relevant authorities and international human rights organizations to take action and reveal his fate, whether he is alive in captivity or a martyr.
A repeated story in the Gaza Strip
Abdul Aziz Juda is not the only name in the list of the missing. Hundreds of families in the Gaza Strip live the same tragedy, deprived even of knowing the fate of their loved ones. Poverty, war, and enforced disappearances are daily struggles faced by the people of the region, in a world that seems accustomed to ignoring their pain.
Today, Abdul Aziz’s family stands between hope and fear, waiting for news that will end this agonizing wait. Until then, the question remains open: Where is Abdul Aziz?
