Take your picture with today’s "Martyr"; Trending in the PA
- Father and friends of “Martyr”: “He kept saying: ‘I want to be a Martyr’ and ‘I want to take a picture with you, I will become a Martyr tonight’”
- Father of dead 16-year-old: My son “wished for this Martyrdom-death for two years… Praise Allah, he achieved it”
- Relative of dead terrorist: “We have rejoiced at his death as a Martyr… He asked [for Martyrdom] and achieved it”
- Official PA TV reporter: “This is the situation of Palestine. We always give our children [as Martyrs] for its soil, for its liberation… Every new Martyr for the land brings us one step closer to liberation”
When 22-year-old Muhammad Abu Kishk was killed in a shootout initiated by terrorists shooting and throwing explosives at Israeli soldiers and civilians at Joseph’s Tomb, his father, uncle, and a friend explained that for years the young man had wished to die as a “Martyr.”
His friend specifically mentioned that Abu Kishk had invited people he met in the street to have their photo taken with him, in anticipation of his own death later that night:
Official PA TV reporter: “You told me you were with [your son] Muhammad at home mere hours before he was wounded. Tell me about the last moments of Muhammad’s life…”
Abu Kamel, father of Muhammad Abu Kishk: “From the afternoon until the evening he kept saying: 'I want to be a Martyr, I want to be a Martyr.’” …
Uncle of Muhammad Abu Kishk: “Already two years ago he wrote on Facebook that he wants to carry out a Martyrdom-seeking operation (i.e., terror attack). The [Israeli] Security Agency contacted his father and we took him to the enemies, and they knew that the child is a bit like this. Afterwards he put[his post] back, and continued to seek Martyrdom, and every other day he said: ‘I want to be a Martyr.’” …
Friend of Muhammad Abu Kishk: “Yesterday he was standing in the neighborhood,and told every person he saw on the street: ‘Come here, I want to take a picture with you, I will become a Martyr tonight.’”
[Official PA TV, Topic of the Day, Nov. 23, 2022]
Being taught for decades that terror is a legitimate means to fight Israel and that “Martyrs” go to Paradise and marry 72 Virgins, it is not surprising that so many Palestinian teens and youth seek death. Adding to the desire to become “Martyrs” is the subsequent fame, and the “joy” and “pride” of the parents and the entire family – the entire Palestinian society in fact. Palestinian teens – like other teens – wish to make their parents proud and also want to emulate other teens who they view as role models.
This was the case for 16-year-old Ahmed Shehadeh, who like Abu Kishk was shot and killed in the exchanges of fire when Palestinian terrorists attacked Israelis at Joseph’s Tomb on Nov. 22, 2022. His father also explained that his son had been almost obsessed with seeking “Martyrdom-death,” constantly asking his father “when he would get married as a Martyr like [the other] Martyrs”:
Official PA TV newsreader: “Our people in Nablus accompanied the body of the child Martyr Ahmed Shehadeh to burial.”
Official PA TV reporter: “He wished to be accompanied [to his wedding] as a Martyr. Before his death as a Martyr, the child Ahmed Shehadeh, 16, asked his father about when he would get married as a Martyr like [the other] Martyrs.”
Amjad Shehadeh, father of Ahmed Shehadeh: “Every week he told me: ‘Dad, when will you accompany me as a groom to his wedding?’ He used to say: ‘When will you accompany me to my wedding?’… My son went as a Martyr, praise Allah Master of the Universe, and this is a Martyr of Palestine, a Martyr of the entire Palestinian people... This boy has wished for Martyrdom-death for two years. Praise Allah, he achieved it.” …
Naif Abu Sharakh, friend of Ahmed Shehadeh: “Ahmed wished for Martyrdom for himself… After Ghaith [Yamin] (i.e., terrorist, threw Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers) died as a Martyr…Ahmed asked for it and achieved it, O Master of the Universe.”
[Official PA TV News, Nov. 23, 2022]
As is clear from his friend’s statement, part of Shehadeh’s motivation for seeking death was his desire to imitate another teen terrorist “Martyr”: Ghaith Rafiq Yamin. Yamin became famous in the PA for dying as a “Martyr” when he threw a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers while participating in a violent Arab riot in Nablus on May 25, 2022. PMW has documented that Yamin actively sought to die as a Martyr, because he left a will on his social media accounts with instructions to relatives and friends about what to do with his body after his death. The will was published after his death. Terrorist Yamin – like “Martyr” Abu Kishk mentioned above - made sure to have his photo taken before he threw his Molotov cocktail, telling people to “take a picture of me, because I will [become] a Martyr”:
After 21-year-old Raed Al-Naasan - terrorist and PA Security Forces member - was killed throwing a firebomb at Israeli soldiers during a violent confrontation near Ramallah, his brother stated that he had wished and “asked” to die as a “Martyr”:
Posted text: “He asked for [Martyrdom] and achieved it…
The brother of Martyr [Raed] Al-Naasan (i.e., terrorist, threw firebomb at Israeli soldiers) speaks about his brother while accompanying his body to its final resting place.”
Brother of terrorist Raed Al-Naasan speaking during his funeral: “He asked for [Martyrdom] and achieved it, praise Allah.”
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Nov. 30, 2022]
Similarly, Fatah presented death as his “greatest wish” as this would be considered his “wedding procession to Paradise” marrying the 72 Virgins:
The image shows the funeral procession of a “Martyr” wrapped in the Palestinian flag. On the right is an image of terrorist Raed Al-Naasan in his PA Security Forces uniform.
Posted text: “If you were to ask him about [his] greatest wish, he would answer: A wedding procession to Paradise.
The cover photo of Martyr Raed Al-Naasan (i.e., terrorist, threw firebomb at Israeli soldiers) on his Facebook page.”
Text on image: “People ask me my greatest wish: A wedding procession like this.
Raed Ghazi Al-Naasan
Good morning to the Martyrs and to what they wish for”
[Fatah Commission of Information and Culture, Facebook page, Nov. 30, 2022]
The following are additional examples of Palestinian praise for the death of children and youth as “Martyrs” in violent confrontations with Israel:
Father of dead 17-year-old terrorist: Martyrdom “is what we hoped for from Allah”:
Father of terrorist Haitham Mubarak: “If only all the members of the Palestinian people would be Martyrs. This is what we hoped for from Allah, Who granted us [our son’s] Martyrdom.”
[Official PA TV News, Nov. 18, 2022]
Relative of dead terrorist: “We have rejoiced at his death as a Martyr… He asked [for Martyrdom] and achieved it”:
Official PA TV reporter: “I want to speak with the aunt of Martyr Wadi’ Al-Houh (i.e., terrorist). I heard you making sounds of joy a short while ago. These are the sounds of joy that we have grown accustomed to hearing at every Martyr’s funeral.”
Aunt of terrorist Wadi’ Al-Houh: “Wadi’ is the most handsome groom.We won’t be able to rejoice at his wedding, but we’ve rejoiced at his death as a Martyr. Wadi’ is the most handsome groom (the aunt makes sounds of joy -Ed.). Allah be praised. He asked [for Martyrdom] and he achieved it.”
[Official PA TV, Oct. 25, 2022]
PA TV Reporter: "Every new Martyr...brings us one step closer to liberation"
When the mother of a 42-year-old terrorist “Martyr” lamented that she is “the sister and the aunt, and the mother of a Martyr,” the reporter responded with the PA message that “We always give our children [as Martyrs]” for “Palestine”:
Mother of terrorist Daoud Rayyan: “[I’m] both the sister and aunt of a Martyr and the mother of a Martyr.” …
Official PA TV reporter: “This is the situation of Palestine. We always give our children [as Martyrs] for its soil, for its liberation…Every new Martyr for the land brings us one step closer to liberation.”
[Official PA TV, Good Morning Jerusalem, Nov. 4, 2022]
The following are further details about the “Martyrs” and additional statements praising “Martyrdom-death”:
Ahmed Shehadeh and Muhammad Abu Kishk – Palestinians aged 16 and 22 respectively who were shot and killed in exchanges of fire when Palestinian terrorists shot and threw explosives at Israeli soldiers and civilians at Joseph’s Tomb on Nov. 22, 2022.
Ghaith Rafiq Yamin – 16-year-old Palestinian terrorist who threw a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers while participating in a violent Arab riot in Nablus on May 25, 2022. The soldiers shot and killed Yamin in self-defense. The rioters were attempting to attack Jews visiting Joseph’s Tomb. Yamin actively sought to die as a Martyr and left a will on his social media accounts with instructions to relatives and friends about what to do with his body after his death.
Haitham Mubarak – 17-year-old Palestinian terrorist who attacked and wounded an Israeli soldier with a hammer near Beitin, northeast of Ramallah, on Sept. 8, 2022. The soldier shot and killed Mubarak in self-defense. A knife was found on Mubarak, who apparently intended to stab and murder his victim after knocking him unconsciousness.
Daoud Rayyan – 42-year-old Palestinian terrorist who threw a Molotov cocktail at Israeli soldiers during clashes in Beit Duqqu, northwest of Jerusalem, on Nov. 3, 2022. The soldiers shot and killed Rayyan in self-defense.
A Martyr's funeral is considered his wedding to the 72 Virgins in Paradise in Islam.
Headline: “The Martyr’s sister – tears burn behind the camera”
“Female journalist FarahQayyim from Nablus recently has grown used to covering the Martyrs’ funerals… and listening to stories about the Martyrs, while quietly shedding tears in sorrow and pain behind the camera. Farah did not imagine that one day she would be the sister of a Martyr, and that many would cry because of her crying and sorrow. She did not imagine that one day she would monitor the details of news about her brother’s death as a Martyr in a direct broadcast…
Farah received the news that her brother Hamdi [Qayyim] (i.e., terrorist, shot at Israeli soldiers) ascended to Heaven while she was covering the occupation’s aggression against Nablus on Oct. 25, [2022]…
With a sad voice and with pain, Farah told [the official PA daily] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida: ‘I know that life ends, this is the way of the world. No one is eternal in this temporary world. But the loss is painful. It wasn’t easy for me to receive this news when I heard it. My only consolation is that my brother achieved the title of Martyr.’ …
Farah said that she was unaware that her brother Hamdi was a resistance member or wanted by the occupation, but she said that he always hoped for Martyrdom and asked for it in his prayers when it rained.”
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Nov. 23, 2022]
Wadi’ Al-Houh, Ali Antar, Hamdi Qayyim, Mash’al Baghdadi, Hamdi Sharaf – The “confrontation” refers to Palestinian terrorists and members of the independent terror cell “the Lion’s Den” who shot at Israeli soldiers when they raided and destroyed a headquarters and weapons and explosives laboratory of the cell in Nablus on Oct. 25, 2022. During the raid, PA Security Forces shot at the Israeli soldiers, who returned fire in self-defense wounding several members of the PA Security Forces. The soldiers also came under fire from members of the terror cell and returned fire, killing 5 terrorists: Wadi’ Al-Houh, Ali Antar, Hamdi Qayyim, Mash’al Baghdadi, Hamdi Sharaf. Al-Houh was a senior member of “the Lion’s Den.”
Raed Al-Naasan – 21-year-old Palestinian terrorist and PA Security Forces member who threw a firebomb at Israeli soldiers while participating in a violent confrontation in Al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah, on Nov. 29, 2022. The soldiers fired in response, killing Al-Naasan.