Monday, October 8, 2007

My friend Rami was killed

The last time I saw Rami we were at the beach near Gaza City. A group of us were in the water and I was trying to force Rami under water. Rami was a big man, weighing at least twice what I do, needless to say, I did not manage to get him to budge. When he in turn came after me all I could do to protect myself from suffocating under him was flee. Eventually I was able to sneak up on him under water and pull his legs out from under him and then escape again.

There are around 3000 Christians living in Gaza today. Rami was the office director of the Teacher’s bookstore, a Christian bookstore in downtown Gaza City. The store sells Christian books and offers computer and language lessons, which are attended by Palestinians from across the Gaza Strip. When I would visit the place on occasion Rami was always there on his swivel chair cracking jokes. Few people entered that did not already know him. Gaza can be a place of sadness, Rami always reminded me much more of the mentality of Egyptians laughing and joking no matter how depressing life becomes.

On Saturday afternoon Rami closed his shop as he always did at 4:30. He had told his brother that three days earlier he had sensed he was being followed home after work but had not made much of it. Two hours after closing up he called his wife and told her with much uncertainty that he hoped to be home in two hours and not to worry. He was not able to say where he was or why he was there. Rami never came home. Friends and family searched for him until late into the night. At 5:30am on Sunday morning his body was found beaten, a bullet through his head, another through his chest. His wallet, ID and watch were gone.

No one has made any statements, no group has taken responsibility. This is the first time in Gaza’s recent history for a Christian to be kidnapped and killed. Sadly, such incidents do occur in revenge killings usually of political nature but never with religious causes. In Gaza, Muslims and Christians live and die side by side, sharing every element of the Israeli occupation and containment that has been a reality there since most people alive today remember. Rami had no political or factional involvement, nor was his family implicated in any family feuds. Rami’s boss was quoted in the Independent saying "We don't know who was behind the killing or why. Was it for money, or was it because he was selling Bibles?"

The heart of the matter is the fact that Gaza is a place overrun with violence. Readers of this blog have followed the complexities of the makeup of Gaza’s social and political makeup, I will not repeat again what I have so often before. Violence here has deep roots in injustice and occupation, but beyond this every individual, every political grouping, every community makes the choice of projecting their experience outward and returning violence for violence. Gaza is deeply entrenched in violence. In Gaza victims of bloodshed often themselves become shedders of blood. Rami experienced the harshness of occupation, the limitation of curfews, Israeli military incursions, civilian targeted sonic booms, restrictions on travel beyond the 365km2 confines of the Gaza Strip and the strife of civil war.

Rami chose to respond to violence with laughter, love and peace. The strength to live such a life is what I hope for Rami’s killers, it is what I hope for every Palestinian living and born into the living hell of Gaza today.

12 comments:

Karin said...

So sorry to hear that, Philip.

AdamBam said...

My thoughts are with you and his family, my friend.

Shawna Atteberry said...

I'm so sorry.

Joshua said...

All condolences to his family and all who knew him.

Deb K said...

Philip, I am so sorry to hear of this also. Prayers are thoughts are with you guys. Deb Kielsmeier

Abram and Sarah said...

Phil--That is so sad... I just saw from a Yahoo article, too, that he leaves behind two children and a pregnant wife...my condolences to you and all who were blessed to know him.

Abram

Becka said...

Matthew 5:4
John 11:35

Jen said...

Thanks for sharing these reflections on Rami's life, Phil. My the Lord be with those who remember, mourn, hope.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear this Philip.

You don't know me, but know that your work and your self is being carried in my prayers every day. I am sorry to hear about your friend.
May God watches upon his family and his friends.

Thank you for being God's hands and voice in a forgotten land.

A friend.

Anonymous said...

Philip, I was sadden to hear this on Monday. I have had Rami's family and you in my prayers this week.
Steve St

hjael79 said...

I heard of Rami's death from a friend of ours in Bethlehem. I prayed all day for him and felt peace that he knew the Lord was with him. I truely believe that with all my heart and continue to pray that His presence and peace rests upon all of you.

I too posted a blog with the video of Rami's mother and wife. Hundreds of Americans are aware of this tragedy, are standing in solidarity with you, and praying for you daily.

Karin said...

Rami's death was reported in some British Christian newspapers. I was given these links but there may be others http://www.baptisttimes.co.uk/news4.htm http://www.churchtimes.co.uk/content.asp?id=45975
as well as the mainstream national daily newspaper, the Independent http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article3038416.ece

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