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| Amid the chaos of Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, Palestinian families share their struggles with locating missing loved ones. |
The Al-Mansi family stands as a poignant testament to the agony of the missing amid the Israeli war.
Five
months have passed since Hazam Al-Mansi, a father and grandfather of
13, vanished without a trace, leaving an incomprehensible void.
“Hazam
was the pillar of our family, the father, the support; he was
everything to us,” says Fatina Al-Mansi, Hazem’s wife, her voice
breaking with tears.
“Every
day, I weep for my daughters. We have four daughters and two sons, and
each one bears the burden of their father's absence differently.”
For Hazam's daughters, the pain of his absence is profound, their tears a daily reminder of the void left by his disappearance.
“We
long to hear his voice, to feel his comforting embrace once more, to
hug him,” says his eldest daughter, her voice trembling with sorrow.
Hazem,
60, suffers from chronic diseases and nerve allergies, requiring
ongoing treatment. However, due to the Israeli war in Gaza, medications
have depleted in pharmacies, and many have closed. Additionally, UNRWA health clinics have been shut since October 7.
“We
searched everywhere for treatment, but it was not available. Most
medications were running out of pharmacies. Without his nerve treatment
medication, Hazem’s nerves began to spasm,” explains Fatina.
“Hazem’s
condition worsened over the next thirteen days after treatment was
interrupted. One day, our neighbour told us there was a pharmacy open in
the Al-Rimal neighbourhood. As soon as Hazem knew that, he quickly went
there without waiting. I asked him to wait for one of our sons to go,
but he refused,” she continues.
"I
pray every night for his safe return, hoping for reassurance... We long
to know his fate, whether he is alive or dead. At the very least, we
wish to provide him with a proper burial"
Conditions in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood were exceedingly challenging and dangerous, compounded by the Israeli army's westward expansion of ground operations in Gaza City.
Since November 6, Hazam Al-Mansi has been missing. He went out and did not return.
“We do not know where he is or what happened to him,” says his wife, her heart heavy with grief.
“We
have searched every corner, every shelter, hoping to find even a shred
of information,” she whispers, her hands trembling with emotion. “But
all we are met with is silence.”
In their search for answers, the Al-Mansi family reached out to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), hoping for assistance in locating Hazam. Yet, their inquiries have yielded no response, leaving the family in uncertainty.
“I
pray every night for his safe return, hoping for reassurance,” his wife
expresses. “We long to know his fate, whether he is alive or dead. At
the very least, we wish to provide him with a proper burial,” she says.
“Don't they say that honouring the dead is burying him? I want to bury
him. I want him to have a grave so that we can remember him and that his
children and grandchildren can visit him.”
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor estimates
that more than 13,000 Palestinians are missing, either buried under
rubble, victims of indiscriminate mass graves, or forcibly hidden in
Israeli prisons and detention centres. Some may have been killed within
these facilities.
The
Israeli army has not released any information regarding the
circumstances of these deaths. Independent bodies have not been able to
verify or ascertain the circumstances, and the bodies have not been
recovered, identified, or returned to their families.
Uncertainty and fear for Nael Al-Yazji
In
the heart-wrenching story of the Al-Mansi family, another plight
unfolds. Nael Al-Yazji's wife describes bearing her anxieties like a
mountain.
“We've
endured every aspect of this Israeli genocide. We face hunger, fear,
death, and anxiety daily. Living under constant bombardment has become
our norm,” says Dana, Nael Al-Yazji's wife.
“We've
witnessed the suffering and fear etched on our children's faces. Yet,
nothing compares to the agony of not knowing Nael's fate,” she
continues.
In late March, Israeli forces invaded Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, committing atrocities against civilians both inside and nearby.
Nael Al-Yazji, 32, had sought refuge in his family home nearby. However, Israeli forces violently raided their home, kidnapping men and forcibly relocating women southward.
"To this day, I know nothing about Nael, whether he was killed or captured"
Dana’s
harrowing recollection paints a vivid picture of the night terror
descended upon their home. “The army suddenly stormed in,” she recounts.
“More than 20 soldiers, accompanied by dogs, unleashed a barrage of
gunfire to instil fear. Then, they swiftly blindfolded and restrained
us.
“At
that moment, I was separated from my family — my husband and children —
surrounded only by the cacophony of screams and cries,” she recalls.
“I
was held captive for several hours in an unknown place. There were
others screaming alongside me, but who they were and where we were, I
don’t know,” she adds.... READ MORE https://www.newarab.com/features/palestinians-search-missing-family-members-amid-gaza-war
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