At 3:15 pm precisely one year ago, on 6 December 2023, I received a call from Refaat. It was during the most intensive strikes of the war and the ground invasion of Gaza City. On the other end of the line was Refaat’s voice, full of energy as usual.
“Where are you? I’m here at the garage,” he said, referring to the emergency operations center of the Gaza Municipality, where I work, located at the heavy machinery depot. Although our meeting had become a daily routine, it was always a delight.
After nearly 25 years, I had grown accustomed to Refaat’s sudden calls, spontaneous plans and impromptu adventures. That was his nature – calling early in the morning to suggest breakfast at Al-Khazendar, a local hummus and falafel restaurant, picking figs and grapes in the orchards of Sheikh Ijleen south of Gaza City, or planning an afternoon outing to the borderlands. But this call was different. It would be our last one.
A sadness lingers in my heart knowing that I was the last known living person to see Refaat alive and to share his final hours that day. We parted moments before he was targeted and killed alongside six other members of his family. ….more
