Suhayb Razzam, 22, a resident of east Jerusalem, was reportedly killed during the Hamas massacre which occurred on October 7, according to a report done by KAN News on Wednesday. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised questions and sparked an emotional response from his family and the local community.
Razzam's brother, A'abed, recounted the heart-wrenching tale of seeking answers about his sibling's whereabouts in the days following the event.
In a conversation with KAN News, A'abed shared his distress over what he described as dismissive treatment from the authorities when he tried to locate his brother.
What did he say?
He stated that he was informed by Hamas members via a call from Suhayb's phone, saying they had him. Upon reporting this to the police, A'abed claimed an officer responded by suggesting he should approach Hamas directly to have his brother returned.
Days after Suhayb's disappearance, his family was informed that his body had been found in the Gaza Strip.
A'abed spoke of the immense grief that this news has brought to their family, mentioning the lack of support or concern from the police and local politicians. "I think about it every day, can't sleep at night, and I'm exhausted. No one is addressing our concerns," he said.
Moreover, there were reported challenges faced during Suhayb's funeral. A'abed alleged that messages circulated WhatsApp groups, describing Suhayb as a "terrorist from Jerusalem" and urging people to prevent his burial.
He emphasized that the family just wants Suhayb to be remembered in a positive light and doesn't want him to be associated with terrorism or Hamas.
In response, the police issued a statement expressing condolences for Suhayb's death, asserting that he, along with nearly 1,400 other Jewish and Muslim civilians, was killed in a brutal terrorist attack orchestrated by Hamas.
They stated that Hamas' terror does not discriminate between victims. The police highlighted their immediate release of information to the public in both Hebrew and Arabic about Suhayb's tragic fate after his funeral on October 19th.
What was the police's statement?
The police refuted A'abed's claims regarding his interaction with them. After an internal review, they revealed that on the day in question, a complaint had been filed at the Shuafat police station and made no mention of the alleged dismissive remarks.
The statement also emphasized that during the October 7th incident, Israel faced a massacre where officers risked their lives defending the country and saving lives. 58 officers reportedly lost their lives.
They reiterated that the aforementioned comments are not representative of the dedication and valor displayed by the police during the event.
The police concluded by emphasizing their primary focus on saving lives without discrimination and clarified that they don't have the resources or mandate to assist with civilian matters related to individuals taken outside of Israel's territories.