Alaa Almassri, a Palestinian who lived in Sweden, was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza while trying to collect food. Almassri, who returned to Gaza after his temporary residency in Sweden was not extended, was among many Palestinians shot amid the chaos at food distribution sites. His cousin, Bassam Altubji from Uppsala, recounts the dire conditions in Gaza, where war, chaos, and starvation prevail.
Palestinian Man Denied Stay in Sweden Killed in Gaza
Palestinian Man Denied Stay in Sweden Killed in Gaza
Palestinian Alaa Almassri was shot dead by IDF while collecting food in Gaza.
Starvation is spreading in Gaza, where desperate people gather at food distribution sites, risking their lives. Over 1,000 Palestinians have been shot dead by Israeli soldiers in recent months amid the chaos at these sites.
"Soldiers shot my relative Alaa Almassri on Monday when he went to collect food. There were many people there, and they started shooting. Alaa died immediately, and dozens of others were killed at the same time," says Bassam Altubji, 43, from Uppsala.
"We are so sad about his death; he is a martyr. It's just war, chaos, and starvation in Gaza. People have no food, water, electricity, or medicine," he says.
Came to Sweden in 2012
He explains that he and Alaa came to Sweden from Gaza in 2012. Alaa lived in Uppsala, where he worked as a car mechanic. He received temporary residency, but it was not extended, so in August 2022, he returned to Gaza, where his family lives.
"Alaa did everything he was supposed to do. He worked, paid taxes. But he didn't get residency in Sweden because he was single. I have a family, so I got to stay," says Bassam Altubji.
"When he returned to Gaza, he said, 'I worked seven years in Sweden, now I'm returning to nothing in Gaza.' The family lives in tents there, forced out of their homes," he says.
Returned to Gaza
A few months after Alaa Almassri's return to Gaza, war broke out following massacres and hostage-taking by the terror-designated Palestinian Hamas in Israeli border communities. Bassam recounts that Alaa was very scared and worried, and his fear deepened as the war and killing continued.
"He cried, he was scared. He wanted to return to Sweden. But at the same time, he wanted to stay and help his parents; as the eldest son, he felt responsible," says Bassam.
"On Monday, Alaa went to collect food that had come in from Egypt via the Rafah crossing. Aid organizations like Unrwa and World Kitchen were distributing food at Morag between Rafah and Khan Yunis. It was complete chaos, and the Israeli soldiers opened fire," he says.
Alaa Almassri was 32 years old.
"Mafia Takes the Aid"
At least 14 Palestinians were killed at Morag on Monday, according to Qatar's news agency QNA.
Expressen has asked the Israeli army spokesperson for a comment.
Alaa's and Bassam's families belong to the Almassri clan, one of the largest clans with around 12,000 members in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. He says that 120 relatives have been killed during the war.
"Israel has forced our families to move three, four times since the war broke out. Now they live in the al-Mawasi tent camp on the coast in southern Gaza. People are starving, the mafia seizes the aid, so people have to pay a lot for food," says Bassam Altubji.