Navan man's brother killed in Rafah bombing

A Navan man and his family have been devastated by the death of his 29 year old brother in the bombardment of Gaza.

Mahmoud Abumarzouq, an orthopaedic surgeon living in Navan with his wife and family, lost his brother Ahmet Mahmoud in the early hours of Friday morning when an Israeli bomb hit the refugee camp in Rafah, where he was staying.

"It is heartbreaking. He was married with a little son, Faisal, who has been looking for him every since. My mother said he is constantly asking for him."

The Meath Branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign held a vigil in Ahmet's honour in Navan on Friday afternoon.

"My father is devastated. This is his second time to lose a son. The Israelis shot my brother in the street when he was on his way to university back in 2000," said Mahmoud.

"My children are heartbroken. We visited Gaza last summer and Ahmet was lovely to them, brought them on bicycles, brought the older boy to the shops. They are so sad to lose him forever."

"It is so hard. I cannot concentrate or do anything. He was so young."

"Luckily my parents survived the attack last Friday, but I am so worried about them. The situation is a disaster. It is not just the bombs, they haven't enough food or clean water water. My father has high blood pressure and diabetes, but has no access to medications at all any more. People with chronic illnesses have no primary care."

Mahmoud also lost his brother-in-law and his 75 year old uncle earlier in this current conflict last October.

Mahmoud and his wife, Mona moved to ireland three years ago and was moved to tears just days after his arrival when he came across a vigil in Navan by the The Meath Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

He had been worrying about his family back home in Gaza, when he came across the protest.

“My wife and I had just been doing our grocery shopping and we were coming out from Tesco when I saw the Palestinian flag.

“I thought is that our flag, and then I saw all the posters and banner and realised what was happening."

The Meath Ireland-Palestine Campaign has extended their sympathy to Mahmoud and his family and were among those who held a vigil in Navan on Friday, which was also attended by a number of other Palestinians living in Meath.

The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Eddie Fennessy said: "On behalf of the people of Navan, I extend our deepest condolences to Mahmoud, his family and to all of the people of Palestine.

"The brutality and the savagery afflicted upon them over the past few months is shocking. No person in their right mind can justify the actions of Israel. It is collective punishment and genocide.

"I call on for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. Humanity demands it."