Ibrahim, Aya, Randa, and Salma

“I’ve been trying to write about Ibrahim for a while, but I can’t. Maybe it’s the shock that Ibrahim, the one who loves life and is loved by people, has left us and gone. Or maybe it’s because Ibrahim is a book of stories, memories, laughter, and playfulness…”

“I used to envy my parents for having such a son. He would sing a part of the song ‘Suhra Hob’ to my mother and say, ‘How are you, Randa?’ and my mother would reply, ‘I’m goooood,’ and he would say, ‘Wow, what a sweet voice.’”

“He was my brother, my friend, the best civil engineer in you, Gaza, and my math, physics, and Arabic teacher, as well as the keeper of secrets. He embraced us with kindness, joy, and love.”

“His wife Aya, or my third sister as I used to call her, was like his twin in kindness and joyfulness. They loved life and had many projects and countries they wanted to visit with their beautiful daughters.”

“Their daughter Randa was a light-hearted, intelligent girl like her father, and Salma, who didn’t even reach three months old.”

“On October 23rd, I spoke to Ibrahim for the first time through a video, and he was happy. He was surrounded by my cousins, who were martyred with him. He said to me, ‘Prepare yourself, we’re coming to Turkey. Haha, no, I remember, go to Egypt, and I’ll come to you. I say let’s meet in paradise, and that’s it, hahaha.’”

On October 24th, Ibrahim, Aya, Randa, and Salma departed.