'Israel fears a disabled man in a wheelchair': World honours Palestinian killed while protesting

'Israel fears a disabled man in a wheelchair': World honours Palestinian killed while protesting
Many may not have known about Abu Thuraya, who lost his legs because of an Israeli airstrike in 2008, but Palestinians made sure he was quickly honoured after his death.
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The New Arab Staff

The New Arab

17 Dec, 2017
Ibrahim Abu Thuraya had lost both of his legs during Israel's offensive in 2008 [Getty]
Palestinians across the world rose up against US President Donald Trump’s decision to declare Jerusalem as the capital. Hamas declared a third intifada and Palestinians have reignited their drive for liberation by taking to the streets in occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip.

On Friday, four Palestinian protesters were killed by Israeli forces. One of them was Ibrahim Abu Thuraya, a Palestinian from Gaza who lost both of his legs in an Israeli airstrike in 2008.

In video footage recorded early on Friday, Abu Thuraya could be seen carrying the Palestinian flag and waving the victory sign at Israeli soldiers across the border.

"I want to go there," he says, referring to the other side of the border, as a number of young men surrounding him also waved Palestinian flags, while others threw stones towards the troops.

"This land is our land, we will not give up. America has to withdraw its decision," Abu Thurayeh said in another video posted on social media.

He was shot in the head on Friday during protests and died with a Palestinian flag in his hands.

Many knew little about him, but many are now mourning their new-found Palestinian icon.

He is "is now a name and a legend in the Palestinian liberation movement":

Artists quickly paid a tribute to him:

Abu Thuraya may have died, but "his struggle goes on as long as injustice goes on"

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