Dura, occupied West Financial institution – Ziad Abu Helaiel – political activist and social reformer – was finest recognized for his defiant phrase “Bihimmish!” (“it does not matter”, in Arabic).
The phrase was uttered openly, even dismissively, to Israeli troopers who tried to scare him as he stood of their means, typically utilizing solely his physique to forestall them from capturing solidarity protesters within the West Financial institution in the course of the 2014 Gaza warfare.
To say that Abu Helaiel, who was crushed to loss of life in his dwelling close to Hebron by Israeli troopers on October 7 this 12 months, was well-known can be an understatement. He was well-known within the West Financial institution for the peaceable protests he led towards the Israeli occupation, by no means armed and infrequently performing as a human barrier between protesters and Israeli troopers.
1000’s of individuals attended his funeral within the West Financial institution. A number of thousand extra tried to attend, however have been stopped at roadblocks maintained by Israeli forces.
Amongst his many acts of resistance, he led an illustration of greater than 10,000 individuals in entrance of Israeli checkpoints in Hebron to demand the return of the our bodies of Palestinians who have been killed by Israel in 2016. The demonstration resulted within the return of 17 our bodies. .
On one other event, says Muhammad Kamel Nassar, a 69-year-old salesman, Abu Helaiel intervened when Israeli troopers tried to arrest a younger man throughout one of many latest raids in Dura, south of Hebron.
Abu Helaiel pursued the troopers and “throughout their pursuit, the sheikh confronted them and was brutally crushed, handcuffed and arrested for hours after he had helped the younger man escape from the troopers’ arms.”
Nassar remembers the occasion from the seat close to the Nice Mosque of Dura, the place the 2 would sit collectively for hours and focus on subjects such because the struggling of the individuals of Gaza and social reconciliation.
Caring for your kids and your flowers
Within the courtyard of their home, Basma, Abu Helaiel’s spouse of 43 years, sits alone in one of many two chairs the place she and her husband used to sit down. Beside him are the flowers and timber that Abu Helaiel, who was 66 years outdated when he was murdered, tended with love.
He most popular the aroma of pure basil flowers, he explains whereas wrapping his outdated keffiyeh round his shoulders. That is the place they used to drink espresso after daybreak prayers each day and look forward to the daybreak collectively. Then their kids would go to work and their grandchildren to review.
He additionally cared for his household. Lengthy after they grew to become adults, they have been nonetheless his kids after they have been in his home.
Abu Helaiel misplaced two of his kids within the Israeli bombings. One in every of them was Jihad, simply 7 months outdated, who was killed in the course of the first Intifada in 1989 close to his dwelling. The household was prevented from touring to the hospital and the newborn had no probability.
One other son, Ahmed, died on the age of 17 in 2017 when he was hit by an Israeli automobile in Ramallah. One brother, Bader, was shot within the chest with dwell bullets earlier than being arrested, wounded and jailed for 3 years.
Basma, 64, has given delivery to eight sons and 6 daughters. Those that are nonetheless alive are the twins Musa and Maysaa, 42 years outdated; Muhammad, 41; Murad, 39 years outdated; Issa, 37; Sanaa, 36; Iyad – Jihad’s twin – 34; Mahmud, 33; Bader, 32; the twins Nidaa and Fidaa, 31 years outdated; Muayad, 30; and Yasmín, 29 years outdated.
‘They beat him mercilessly’
Within the early hours of October 7, the primary anniversary of the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel, which left 1,139 lifeless and 251 captured and triggered the beginning of the Israeli warfare on Gaza, occupation troopers stormed the courtyard by Abu The home of Helaiel.
“It was round three within the morning after we heard the troopers’ voices as they laid siege to the home and ordered us to open the door,” says Basma.
His son, Muayad, went to open the door and was instantly attacked. The troopers demanded that he take them to his uncle’s home subsequent door.
At that second, different troopers burst into the home, discovered Ziad and started beating him mercilessly. He stored repeating that he had a coronary heart illness, however one of many troopers intentionally hit the guts space. As Abu Helaiel tried to observe them out of the home, one of many troopers hit him within the chest with the heavy iron door, inflicting him to break down.
Abu Helaiel had beforehand undergone a number of cardiac procedures, together with an artery catheterization. He misplaced consciousness for greater than half an hour however the home was surrounded by troopers. “They prevented the ambulance from reaching us,” says Basma.
When he regained consciousness, he “stated the Shahada in my arms whereas I attempted to assist him keep alive after which his soul left his physique. I felt like my physique had additionally misplaced its soul,” says Basma.
‘Lots of honey and a bit of onion’
Basma fondly remembers her husband’s generosity, humility, braveness and fixed prayer within the mosque. “He taught me persistence and suggested me to maintain his sick and paralyzed mom and proceed her journey with out worry,” he says.
Everybody beloved him, he says. When he returned dwelling, a number of cats have been at all times ready for him and he fed them each day. They stored coming, even after he was killed.
His grandchildren would even be ready, able to take no matter treats he had introduced dwelling, chips or cookies. “I bear in mind feeding them along with his spoon although that they had already had lunch,” Basma recollects.
Basma met Abu Helaiel in Jordan, the place she was born and her household lived. Abu Helaiel went to work for a Saudi financial institution however returned to Jordan in the course of the engagement and wedding ceremony interval.
The couple stayed there for 3 years earlier than Abu Helaiel took them again to Palestine, the place they settled within the metropolis of Dura, south of Hebron, and he labored in agriculture. Basma says her marriage was stuffed with “quite a lot of honey and a bit of onion,” quite a lot of happiness and a bit of unhappiness.
Above all, she says, her husband devoted himself to defending his countrymen. “He by no means used weapons or sharp instruments, however remained along with his chest naked and his palm clear in entrance of the weapons of the occupation,” he explains. “I needed to forestall Israeli troopers from firing bullets and bombs at Palestinian youth, particularly in the course of the occupation’s repression of demonstrations of solidarity with the individuals of Gaza throughout previous wars.
“He beloved the individuals of Gaza very a lot and was very affected by the scenes of massacres in Gaza and spoke loads about what he noticed, particularly about younger kids and girls. “His tears wouldn’t dry for lengthy durations on account of his unhappiness and ache.”
Now, he says, the pillar of the home has disappeared. “It has left an enormous void.”
At his funeral, Basma says he centered on his bravery. She stated: “Congratulations in your martyrdom and will God make you cheerful in it. This loss of life lifts my head and the pinnacle of his total household, and is a badge of honor for us and a tribute to his biography. His will at his departure was that we must always not cry, however ought to rejoice and howl, and shouldn’t obtain mourners, however ought to obtain congratulations.”
Resolving disputes in the dark
“In our father’s eyes, we by no means grew up,” says Murad Abu Helaiel, 39, who works as a pc programmer.
“My oldest brother is 42 years outdated and the youngest is 27, however he handled us all like kids underneath 5 years outdated due to the nice care he gave us.”
He was additionally thought-about a caretaker within the wider group and was typically requested to assist resolve disputes. “Many instances he obtained calls requesting his help in the course of the night time. He left his mattress to supply it,” Murad recollects.
On one event, Abu Helaiel was stabbed within the hand whereas making an attempt to intervene in a dispute between two locals. “He refused to return out for therapy regardless of bleeding till there was a reconciliation between the 2 events,” says his son.
On one other event he intervened in a dispute between two neighbors as a result of one among them uprooted the opposite’s tree. The injured celebration requested for six,000 dinars ($8,464) for the tree.
Abu Helaiel took off the agal (the pinnacle protecting with the keffiyeh) and put it on the sufferer, asking: “Is that this sufficient as an alternative of 6,000 dinars?” The person replied: “No, that is value 10,000 and I can’t owe you 4,000 dinars.”
“And the battle was resolved,” says Murad.
His father’s loss of life has left an awesome void not solely within the household, but in addition in his group and in Palestinian society as a complete, he says. “The Palestinian individuals wanted somebody who would face occupation and injustice in every single place and worry nothing.”
In his remaining days, his son says, he continued to supply help and care to the group regardless of his coronary heart issues. “I maintain her garments: her head agal, keffiyeh, abaya and dishdasha. “They’ve turn into a priceless treasure for me and my household.”
