He was the last person to speak to his martyr son ... Palestine, the funeral of Yahya Ayyash's father

Atef Douglas-Salfit

Less than 24 hours after his death, the masses of Palestine, Sheikh Abd al-Latif Ayyash, the father of the martyr engineer Yahya Ayyash, leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, who died after suffering from the disease, aggravated in the past few months and the father completely lost his movement.

In the village of Rafat, near the town of Salfit, in the northern West Bank, the funeral of Sheikh Abd al-Latif, 82, went from his home towards the mosque of the martyr Yahya Ayyash and then the village cemetery where the wealth is hidden, amidst the takbeers and chants of glorifying the Sheikh and his son, the martyr, the engineer.

At the request of his wife, Al-Hajja Aisha Ayyash, he delayed the burial of Sheikh Abd al-Latif from the time of the noon prayer until the afternoon, so that, according to her, she said, "For the largest number of lovers to attend the funeral and participate in it."

Amidst the remarkable presence of the leaders of the national and Islamic action, many speeches were delivered at the moment of his burial, which stood on the Sheikh's sacrifices and sacrifices in exchange for his martyr's son Yahya and his and his family members' exposure to Israeli repression, which included his arrest and investigation, restricting his freedom and preventing travel internally and externally.

All the suffering of the family was caused by the martyr Yahya Ayyash, who spent the beds of Israel and its military and intelligence armies and became the first wanted, especially for Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who put a special picture of Yahya Ayyash in his office and asked daily whether he was killed or not?

Pain and suffering
For more than three years, the occupation chased Yahya Ayyash, who was described as the architect of martyrdom operations, the weapon that constituted a unique deterrent to the occupation until he was able to assassinate him in the Gaza Strip, where he was hiding, on January 5, 1996, by detonating a mobile phone that was his connection. His father reassures him on him from time to time.

Despite the martyrdom of Yahya, the family, headed by Sheikh Abd al-Latif, was not spared the occupation’s attacks, and he was prevented from entering Jerusalem or even treatment inside the occupied Palestinian one, despite his deteriorating health condition and his need for treatment there, as well as numerous arrests involving his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Haj Abdul-Latif remained strong and present despite all that suffering in the field, and even - and through his participation in national and Islamic events, especially the launch festivals of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) - constituted fuel for them.

His presence had a great impact in mobilizing energy among the masses, and his speeches were a remarkable presence.

Sheikh presence
The journalist Nawaf Al-Amer - who accompanied the period of chasing the martyr Ayyash and the suffering of his family - says that the influence of Haji Abdul Latif was strong and his presence was always prominent, so that he was entrusted with assuming the presidency of the local council in his village for his honor and acknowledged his efforts.

He adds - in his speech to Al-Jazeera Net - that the name of Haji Abdul Latif was not only associated with the famous call between him and his son that led to his martyrdom, but rather his Arab revolution, as his three sons Yahya, Younis, and Mar'i linked their name to historical Arabic names, "and they are the three brothers in the alienation of Bani Hilal."

His son, Merhi, tells Al-Jazeera Net that death, and if his father is absent, his presence will remain large and associated with Yahya, and that this appeared through the large participation in the funeral of his body from his village of Rafat and the neighboring villages and most Palestinian cities in the West Bank.

Haji Abd al-Latif left without hearing the last call broadcast by Israel through its media in late November, which was the last between him and his martyr son.

Given his health condition, his children did not want to hear it, although she revived the ears of his grandson and the son of Yahya (Al-Bara), but at the same time it was not surprising to the family - as Merhi says - then three years ago the occupation broadcast similar clips. "So my father said if they broadcast the entire recording, he wouldn't It hurts me. "

And two years ago, the condition of Haji Abdul Latif relapsed after suffering a fracture in the pelvis, and due to his suffering from chronic diseases such as pressure and diabetes, he was completely removed three months ago from the movement, until he entered the hospital two days ago in a complete coma until God Almighty died on Saturday.