Solidarity with Mo: a Palestinian in the shadow of war

Solidarity with Mo: a Palestinian in the shadow of war

In the context of the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Alattar, a member of the ver.di union and employee at HHLA, shared his dramatic experiences and the loss of his family in an urgent letter. Alattar, who came to Germany in 2015, describes his experiences and pain he suffered from the military conflicts. He emphasizes that he came to Germany with the hope of a better life, but this hope was shaken by the tragedies in his homeland.

On February 6, 2024, Alattar's brother Abood, only 33 years old, was killed by the Israeli occupation. Abood was a father of three children and, according to Alattar, this event is just one of many sad fates that affected his family. Over 80 relatives and 130 well -known, including neighbors and former colleagues, have lost their lives during this time. Alattar describes the destruction of his five -story parents' house and the entire neighborhood, which caused over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip to the ground.

a life in fear

"My parents have been living in a horror for over 270 days of permanent bombing and destruction," he reports. Alattar illustrates that the permanent attacks have severely affected his memories and thus also his identity. "Mathematically, Israel has aggressively damaged and wiped 90 percent of my life before 2015," he explains and refers to the loss of his loved ones, his homeland and any livelihood.

In his appeal to the ver.di union, Alattar shows a clear expectation of solidarity and support. He wonders whether he can expect the same support from his union as they gave Ukraine. "About two years ago I joined ver.di, namely to be solidarity and loud. For the fight against oppression and injustice, be strong and together," he says.

Alattar expresses his deep disappointment about the current situation. He wants ver.di not only words of support, but also concrete deeds and an active examination of the topic of the conflict in his homeland. "I want exactly that, otherwise I have to continue to work and endure the pain and suffering in me without getting your solidarity," he concludes his urgent message.

The words of Mohammed Alattar are an impressive testimony of the personal tragedies that occur in conflict situations. The reports of those affected like him are important to understand the real dimension of the conflicts. Alattar not only raises his voice for himself, but also for all those who suffer from similar circumstances.