In memory of Muhammad
(And an interview)
Hey everyone, it’s been a while, and I’m sorry for that. I’ve been monstrously busy with my life, work and other things have consumed most of my time. With that being said:
Episode 2 is being written, the script is about a 3rd finished
It’ll cover Palestinian identity and the historical basis of that Identity
It’ll be published by mid August
I appreciate your patience, and I hope you continue to stay subscribed, and I hope you find the new episode informative and interesting when it’s released
Another thing: I was interviewed by the good folks at World War Now about the current crisis in Gaza, alongside the history of the conflict, and possible war with Lebanon. You can find the interview here. You should subscribe to their podcast, and to listen to the full episode, you should subscribe to their premium membership. I’m very grateful that they allowed me to come and give a voice to the Palestinian Struggle.
But I wanted to make this post as a tribute to my Cousin. I meant to post this three days ago, but time got away from me.
Ten years ago on July 2nd 2014, my cousin Muhammad Abu Khdier was kidnapped from outside of his home by several Jewish settlers. He was driven to the Jerusalem forest, where he was beaten with tire irons, doused in gasoline, forced to drink gasoline, and then burnt alive. He was 16 years old. When his body was found, the Israeli police notified the family, immediately treating them like subjects. The Israeli police would then ‘leak rumors’ to Israeli media, claiming that Muhammad was killed by his own family for being a homosexual. Besides being untrue, these slanderous lies would humiliate his family.
During the funeral, his cousin, Tariq, 15 years old, an American citizen who came from Florida, was dragged into an alley by the IDF where he was mercilessly beaten by police, and then held in a prison without charges for three days. The soldiers involved were never disciplined.
Muhammad was a funny, mischievous kid. He liked to be outside, playing soccer. His death would be the spark that would launch the 2014 Gaza war, where 2,310 civilians would be killed, the majority of whom were woman and children.
Muhammad’s death was one of many during that summer. I remember when his mother called mine, I could hear her crying and shrieking over the phone. I’ll never forget that night.
Muhammad was given a brutal, excruciating death. He was killed because he was a Palestinian. He was killed because in the eyes of the average Jew in Israel, he was just another dirty Arab.
I’ve been told by many I need to learn to forgive and move on. Maybe. But for 75 years we have been told that WE need to be peaceful, WE need to compromise, while our brutalizers and subjugators are lauded as ‘peacemakers’ and ‘bringers of civilization.
I’ll consider ‘peace and non-violence’ when we are given justice. I’ll consider ‘peace and non-violence’ when these occupiers piss of back to Europe from whence they came. I’ll consider ‘peace and non-violence’ after Palestine is free, from the river to the sea.
I miss you, Muhammad. May your memory be eternal.