Palestinians Seek Missing Relatives in Syria
In the wake of recent developments in Syria, families of missing Palestinians are intensifying their search for loved ones who have been unaccounted for since the 1980s. Yousef Al-Awawdeh, a resident of Dura in the southern West Bank, has been inundated with calls after social media reports suggested potential information about his brother, Ibrahim Hussein Issa Hammad Al-Awawdeh, who has been missing since 1983. Al-Awawdeh expressed hope that the recent release of detainees could lead to new insights regarding his brother's fate, as the family has not received any credible information for decades.
Ibrahim, who was born in 1960, last communicated with his family in 1983 while traveling from France to Syria. Since then, the family has treated him as if he were alive, maintaining his property and land in anticipation of his return. Al-Awawdeh has appealed to human rights organizations and the Palestinian embassy in Syria for any information regarding his brother.
The Stories of Other Missing Palestinians
Similar stories echo across the Palestinian community, with families like that of Naaman Abdul Rahman Abdul Hafez Awad, who disappeared in 1982 while attempting to volunteer during the Israeli invasion. His brother, Wael Awad, recounted that Naaman was last reported to be in Sednaya prison, but attempts by the family to investigate his whereabouts were thwarted by Syrian authorities.
As the Syrian regime faces upheaval, the families of the missing are utilizing social media to spread awareness and gather information. Organizations such as the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria have documented thousands of cases of Palestinians who have been killed, detained, or are missing since the conflict began, with estimates suggesting that 4,294 Palestinians have been killed and 3,085 arrested since 2011.
Humanitarian Crisis and Call for Support
The humanitarian situation for Palestinians in Syria remains dire, with the United Nations reporting approximately 438,000 refugees in the country, most of whom live below the poverty line. The recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime has sparked celebrations among Syrians, yet it also raises questions about the fate of those still missing. Families are calling on survivors and anyone with information to assist in their search, highlighting the urgent need for support from human rights organizations and the international community.
