In my previous post on the double-amputee Ibrahim Abu Thurayeh who was killed in Gaza last week, I quoted RT which interviewed the family:
The Palestinian’s brother told Ruptly that Thurayeh knew he would not be coming back from the protest alive. “Yesterday my brother said to me while he was eating dinner us: ‘Brother, forgive me. This is the last night you will see me. And you, my mother, forgive me, and you my sisters, you all forgive me...’So did he plan his own death - perhaps even at the hands of Hamas?
“He kissed the hand and the leg of my father and said to him: Father, forgive me. This is the last night you will see me, as I intend to be a martyr. I am bored of this life, I have no legs and I have nothing. I want to die and rest from life.”
His mother told Ruptly that her son wanted to “sacrifice himself for the homeland,” adding that “he has become a martyr.” His father said that his son died for Jerusalem.
A couple of other pieces of information might indicate that martyrdom wasn't his main goal - providing for his family was.
Abu Thurayeh was profiled in a couple of Arabic media outlets two years ago.
Ibrahim is now washing cars, from his wheelchair, taking an hour to wash each car.He felt he had to take care of his family, and he wasn't making nearly enough money washing cars.
"I had to work to face the deteriorating reality of my family, despite the looks I get from neighbors and pedestrians," said Ibrahim, 27, to Watan. "I start my day from 9 am, go back late at night, and contribute to paying my university fees for my sister, in addition to the expenses of the house."
The Ibrahim family consists of a father with a disability, a mother who is sick with high blood pressure and diabetes, and two brothers and six sisters, one of whom is studying at the university, hoping to improve the family's living conditions after graduation.
Ibrahim hopes to find a girl who accepts marriage despite his health and life, and to become a family.
He also lives in a modest house in the Shati refugee camp (west of Gaza City). "I get paid 1,000 shekels a month, 700 of them for rent, and the rest will be paid for previous debts."
Families of "martyrs" get about $1000 a month, or 3500 shekels. By getting killed, Abu Thurayeh is going to provide his family with 3.5 times the salary he made before his death.
That is a pretty powerful incentive, especially for someone who was depressed at not finding a wife and having no legs.
UPDATE: More evidence that Abu Thurayeh planned his death, from Mondoweiss:
The older bereaved brother, who took part in Ibrahim’s funeral, recalled for Mondoweiss their last conversation during breakfast last Wednesday. Ibrahim saw that the demonstrations were becoming deadly. “Mom, bro… please forgive me for any mistake I have ever did, I have lost my legs for my country and I think that is not enough, I must sacrifice my whole body for the sacrifice of the homeland,” Ibrahim said.(h/t Adam L)
Also, keep in mind that according to his family, Abu Thurayeh went either every week or even every day to protest at the Gaza border. He obviously wasn't concerned that he was going to be shot and killed every other time. Only the day before he was actually killed did he express that desire.
So when his brother (in other interviews) points out that this is proof that Israel shoots disabled people...quite the contrary.