Abdulaziz Almaani, a 33-year-old Swedish-Palestinian, tragically lost his life in Gaza while trying to help his family and others amidst the ongoing conflict. Despite opportunities to evacuate, he chose to stay and assist those in need, ultimately becoming a martyr. His story highlights the personal toll of the conflict and the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Swedish-Palestinian Abdulaziz Almaani Dies in Gaza Conflict
Swedish-Palestinian Abdulaziz Almaani Dies in Gaza Conflict
Abdulaziz Almaani left Sweden to assist his family in Gaza, only to lose his life in the ongoing war. His body was discovered near his home in Khan Younis.
"We heard that many people were lying dead on the streets. We didn't think Abdulaziz was one of them," said a relief worker to Expressen.
Abdulaziz Almaani was 33 years old. His body was found by chance near his home in Maan, a suburb of Khan Yunis, last Saturday.
The Swedish-Palestinian had traveled to Gaza to bring his family back. However, he stayed to help others, his father recounts. According to the Swedish Tax Agency, he has been registered as emigrated to Gaza since spring.
This decision led to his demise.
His father received images of his son in a body bag. He appeared thinner than when he left Uppsala.
"The picture speaks for itself. You can see the difference from when he was in Sweden and how he became during the war in Gaza. Everyone knows there is a shortage of food and medicine in Gaza," his father says.
Lost Three Cousins in the 2014 War
Abdulaziz Almaani, along with his parents and siblings, moved to Sweden and Uppsala in 2006. He studied to become a drilling technician and later worked as an assistant for the disabled in Uppsala.
However, he returned to Gaza over the years. He was present during the Gaza war in 2014. The war lasted from July to August that year, during which he lost three cousins, he told Swedish media.
"It's terrible. They were all the same age as me, and we've known each other since we were small children. A massacre is happening here, civilians are dying all the time," he said then to UNT.
Shortly before the current war broke out, his wife and their three children visited Gaza. But after Hamas's attack on Israel and Israel's response, they became trapped. His wife is also registered as emigrated to Gaza.
Abdulaziz went there to bring his family back, his father says.
"His goal was to bring his family to Sweden. He started helping people in need.
Then he stayed.
"No One Dared to Retrieve the Bodies"
The father says they have lost several family members and friends since the war broke out. Among others, Abdulaziz lost his uncle. The older man was shot dead near his home, as was his wife.
"Their bodies remained on the street for two weeks. No one dared to retrieve the bodies. All this made Abdulaziz realize he was needed there. He didn't want to betray his people," says the father from his home in Sweden.
Exactly what happened is unclear to the family.
Khan Yunis is one of the hardest-hit cities in Gaza. Abdulaziz and his family had fled their home and sought refuge with relatives. His family didn't know he had gone to Maan. The shock was therefore great when his body was found on the street.
"He Might Have Wanted to Help People"
"We don't know why he went to Maan. He probably wanted to visit his home to see if it was still standing. We know that most of Maan is bombed out. People trying to get there are killed in cold blood. Abdulaziz is a kind person who stands up for everyone. He might have wanted to help people there too," says father Hassan.
"Abdulaziz carried an enormous burden—as an individual, as a brother, and as a son. He couldn't betray the trust his loved ones had given him. He became like a father, not only to his three children but to everyone around him who needed protection, food, or clothes. He worked quietly, without tiring or complaining—in defiance of the world's shameful, hypocritical silence.
Offered Help—Stayed Behind
Around 600 people with connections to Sweden have been evacuated from Gaza during the war. Abdulaziz had the chance to get help from the Swedish embassy in Egypt to be evacuated. He hesitated and then declined, his father says.
Partly because the journey through the so-called safe passages is dangerous—but also:
"Those who know him here in Uppsala know how he used to stand up for people he knew and for strangers. He helped people quietly. When he witnessed the massacres in Gaza, he decided to help people in Gaza," says his father Hassan Almaani.
"He chose to stay to help. Now he is a martyr."
Expressen has been in contact with Abdulaziz's wife, who is currently unable to speak.
Expressen has sought the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.