Tragedy Strikes: Palestinian-American Teenager Fatally Shot by Israeli Military
In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through the community, a Palestinian-American teenager from Gretna was tragically killed by the Israeli military on Friday. Tawfik Abdeljabbar, just 17 years old, was fatally shot in a car in the West Bank region, also known as Palestine. The news was confirmed by leaders at the Masjid Omar mosque in Harvey, who are close to Abdeljabbar’s family. The teenager was pronounced dead at the Palestinian Medical Complex in Ramallah.
Tawfik Abdeljabbar had relocated from Gretna to Palestine last summer to complete his high school education. Sherean Murad, the vice principal of the Muslim Academy in Gretna, which is affiliated with the mosque, fondly remembered Abdeljabbar as a promising student. “Tawfik was funny, beautiful, smart, witty, and always had something sarcastic and hilarious to say,” she said. Murad also emphasized that Abdeljabbar was an American citizen, just like any other, whose parents paid taxes that funded the very weapons used to take his life.
The news of Abdeljabbar’s tragic death spread rapidly on social media, with Al Jazeera reporter Hamdah Salhut posting about the incident. She referred to the teenager as “Tawfik Hijazi” and shared a photo that matched the one provided by the mosque. Activists took to social media to condemn the killing and highlighted that Abdeljabbar was a native of the New Orleans area.
There has been some confusion regarding the teenager’s name, with different spellings and discrepancies in reports. Sources close to the family have attributed this to cultural differences between the United States and Arab-speaking countries. In Arab countries, individuals may use multiple surnames to denote their ancestry, whereas in the U.S., a single surname is commonly used.
Details surrounding the incident are still scarce, but according to Reuters, the killing occurred during clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli military, which involved stone-throwing by Palestinians. The local mosque stated that Abdeljabbar was riding in a car when he was tragically shot in the head in the village of Al-Mazra’a, just east of Ramallah. He had been living in the region for less than a year and was halfway through his senior year of high school.
The White House has expressed serious concern over the death of the Palestinian-American teenager. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby acknowledged that they do not have a perfect understanding of the exact circumstances surrounding the incident but assured that they are in communication with counterparts in the region.
The Palestinian territories have been experiencing heightened tensions and violence since the Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7. In response, the Israeli military has launched retaliatory strikes, vowing to eliminate Hamas. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a devastating loss of civilian lives, with humanitarian groups estimating that over 23,000 civilians, including thousands of children, have been killed.
In remembrance of Tawfik Abdeljabbar, the mosque will be holding a vigil on Saturday, January 20 at 6 p.m. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region and the devastating impact it has on innocent lives. As this story continues to develop, it is crucial that we strive for peace and justice for all those affected by this senseless violence.