A Lebanese-American individual met their demise in an Israeli airstrike, relatives assert, as they provided aid to displaced individuals.
On the 1st of October, Abdel, a 56-year-old American citizen, father of four, and cherished figure in the Dearborn, Michigan, community, was taken by an Israeli aerial strike, as his family reports. This tragic event serves as a sobering reminder of the potential escalation of the conflict beyond its borders, as Israel intensifies its offensive.
His daughter, Nadia Abdel, expressed her family's sentiment in a post on Facebook.
"We are proud of my father's sacrifice. In his final days, he chose to remain near the main hospital in Nabatieh, where he aided the elderlies, disabled, injured, and financially disadvantaged individuals who couldn't afford to escape," she wrote.
"He acted as their protector, providing them with sustenance, bedding, and other comforts and anonymously paid off their debts. I would often enquire if he was afraid, and he consistently reassured us, stating that we should not fear as he was performing his most cherished task: helping others in the land he cherished the most."
Israeli airstrikes were reported in Nabatieh, where Abdel was killed, over the past week, as per the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health. CNN reached out to the Israeli military, who declined to comment without being furnished with the strike's exact coordinates and time.
Israel has reportedly launched an unparalleled airstrike campaign against Lebanon, resulting in over 1,400 fatalities, nearly 7,500 injuries, and the displacement of over a million people from their homes, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The bombardment, which Israel claims targets Hezbollah strongholds, has been described as the "most intense aerial campaign" outside of Gaza in the last two decades, according to Airwars.
Hezbollah is considered a "resistance" group in Lebanon, tasked with confronting Israel, which Beirut classifies as an enemy state. Nevertheless, the Western world has designated the Iran-backed organization a terrorist group.
Israel and Hezbollah have been locked in a cycle of retaliation since October 7, 2023, when Hamas orchestrated a deadly attack in Israel, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and the capture of over 250 hostages, as per Israeli officials. In the resulting conflict in Gaza, Israel's aerial bombardment and ground incursion have reportedly killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Various militant groups, including those from Lebanon to Yemen as well as Iran, have retaliated by attacks on Israel, which has responded in kind, fueling fears of a broader regional conflict.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the conflict is solely with Hezbollah and not the Lebanese people, and emphasized that the Israeli military has repeatedly urged civilians to evacuate areas under attack. Lebanese officials have accused Israel of indiscriminately bombing populated civilian areas, including Beirut.
CNN teams in Beirut have uncovered instances where Israeli strikes occurred without prior warning and evacuation orders were sent out randomly during nighttime hours, leading to a continuous rise in casualties and the displacement of one-fifth of Lebanon's population.
Despite the geopolitical intricacies, Abdel's primary concern was the people.
"During his final moments, my father remained calm. He emphasized the need for collective responsibility in supporting the oppressed. Even as he witnessed the devastation caused by the missiles around him, his unwavering belief in the importance of community care, regardless of the capacity, remained," his daughter wrote.
"My father's message was clear: cease in arming, aiding, and abetting our oppression and instead, prioritize in caring for the individuals fighting for their freedom and dignity."
A grieving American community
Abdel's death has ignited an outpouring of love and shared memories in Dearborn, home to the largest Arab American and Lebanese communities in the US.
In the days following his demise, friends, family members, community members, and local officials have shared tributes online, commending Abdel for his selflessness and dedication to both his American and Lebanese communities.
Many remember him as a kind and generous person who preferred to keep his good deeds under wraps. He was known for setting aside money annually to return to Lebanon to aid people, providing them with food and clearing strangers' debts without their knowledge. Abdel was also the founder of the nonprofit organization, Lebanese Diaspora Relief Org, which provides support to Lebanon's needy families through food and medical supplies.
"There are individuals in this world who exude sincerity from within," Hamza Raza, Abdel's companion, wrote in a Facebook post. "He was someone who cared deeply for people and loved helping people.
"We honor him as a martyr," Raza wrote. "We are, however, saddened by humanity, by the oppression of the Israeli state, and by the fact that an American was killed by Israel, aided by his own government."
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Abed Ayoub, who is Lebanese and hails from Dearborn, told CNN that Abdel was a highly respected figure in the community who contributed to its betterment daily.
"He's leaving behind an incredible legacy and someone who truly embodies the best of Lebanon and Dearborn in the US," Ayoub said. "It's a heartbreaking loss for the community, a heartbreaking loss for his family, his parents, and all of us in the city."
US Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell of Michigan are among the numerous politicians who praised Abdel and his family.
Other Lebanese-American families in Dearborn are mourning the loss of relatives back home, like Ali Dabaja, who mentioned at least five family members being killed by Israeli airstrikes in Bint Jbeil, a city in southern Lebanon recently. His cousin Batoul Dabaja-Saad, her husband, and their three children – the youngest being 8 years old – were buried under the rubble of their home, according to him.
Dabaja, being friends with the Jawad family and feeling distraught over his demise, stated that the Dearborn community is in "collective grief" and that every death – including every Palestinian killed by Israel since October 7 – has caused the community the same quantity of pain.
"These are all lives that carry significance to us, every single one of those human beings, those Arabs, those brown faces, were allowed to perish, but they had stories and aspirations. Each time one of those lives is claimed for us, it amplifies our tragedy," Dabaja shared with CNN. "With each death, a fire within us continues to burn, and it burns stronger."
Their sorrow is accompanied by anger, despair – and a belief that US leaders are not heeding their pleas for an end to the violence claiming numerous loved ones' lives.
"We don’t just need comforting words and diplomacy," Dabaja said. "We need action, we need a policy change, a policy that forbids war, a policy that forbids foreign funding of wars."
The US State Department confirmed to CNN on Friday that Jawad was a US citizen, contradicting spokesperson Matthew Miller's initial statement on Wednesday denying Jawad's citizenship. Miller's remarks were disparaged by the Arab American community and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who suggested that the rushed statements hurt the community and undermined the extent of Jawad's loss.
"We are conscious and alarmed by the reports of Kamel Jawad's demise, whom we have confirmed is a US citizen," a State Department spokesperson told CNN, adding that they "are working to comprehend the circumstances of the incident."
"As we have frequently noted, it is a moral and strategic necessity that Israel takes all feasible measures to minimize civilian damage," the spokesperson said. "Any loss of civilian life is a tragedy."
“Your obligation is to the poor”
The Jawad family has turned down all media requests. In an Instagram exchange with a journalist, Nadine Jawad cited the "dehumanizing" media coverage of Arabs and Arab Americans.
Jawad stated in her Facebook statement that her father "never viewed himself as a savior," only that he was "part of a larger movement of people who refuse to remain silent in the face of oppression."
He devoted his life – and ultimately gave it up – for his cherished Lebanese community, in Lebanon and the US. However, his American citizenship, his daughter claims, does not make his life more valuable than the lives of the numerous Palestinian and Lebanese civilians killed by Israeli airstrikes.
"His service and dedication to aiding those in need isn't concluded," she wrote, promising to continue his work.
Before being killed, Jawad sent his children a straightforward voice note: "Peace be upon you. Everything is fine, but if something happens to me, your obligation is to the poor."
The family has already started a fundraising campaign in Jawad's honor, gathering over $88,000 to help feed and aid displaced Lebanese civilians through his nonprofit organization.
“Their demise isn’t simply a demise, it isn’t simply a loss, it is a message,” Dabaja said. “His story is a story that should be shared with the entire world.”
CNN’s Jennifer Hansler and Kara Fox contributed to this report.
- The American community in Dearborn, where Abdel was a beloved figure, has expressed their grief and praised his selflessness and dedication to both his American and Lebanese communities.
- Nadia Abdel, in remembering her father's final days, spoke of his commitment to helping the vulnerable in Nabatieh, despite the danger, and emphasized his belief in aiding others as his most cherished task.
