Today, we received extremely sad news from our orphan sponsorship team. Mohammad Bhar, the young man in Gaza, who was recently killed by Israeli military dogs, was one of the orphans in the care of Islamic Relief. 

As it turns out, Mohammed has been part of our orphan sponsorship program since he was young.

On behalf, and along with the entire Islamic Relief family, I am utterly heartbroken. We are appalled at the horrific nature of his killing, which is shocking even amidst the daily atrocities in Gaza.

We are calling for an independent international investigation into his death, and for all responsible to be held accountable.  

Mohammad, 24, was killed during Israel’s recent attack on the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City, where he and his family lived. 

His mother, Nabila, told Islamic Relief that Israeli soldiers forced their way into the family’s home.

Mohammed had Down syndrome and autism. He barely spoke. But when the military dog started mauling a terrified Mohammad, tearing at his body, he screamed in agony and pleaded for the attack to stop. 

With Mohammad severely bleeding, the Israeli soldiers moved him to another room on his own. Despite the fact that his illness meant that his family was usually with him for support at all times. 

The soldiers refused to allow Mohammad’s mother or sister to enter the room to comfort him or bring him water. Shortly afterwards, they forced them to leave the house at gunpoint while he was still alive. 

Mohammad was left alone in the dark room, critically wounded, scared and thirsty, until he died. 

His body was only recovered a week later. When the Israeli military withdrew, allowing his family and neighbours to rush to the house to find his remains.  

There are no words that convey our shock, sadness, and how appalled we are. 

We complain to Allah, and say Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. 

After so many months of atrocities, it is hard to be shocked any more by news from Gaza. But the killing of Mohammad reached new depths of horror. One that has left everyone at Islamic Relief utterly heartbroken. 

We can only imagine the fear and panic that Mohammad must have felt as he died. Alone, wounded and without his family beside him. All our prayers are with Mohammad’s family and friends.

There must be accountability for such acts. There must be an immediate ceasefire to finally bring the massacre in Gaza to an end.

An Islamic Relief staff member in Gaza recalls: “Mohammad was a familiar face in the neighbourhood, known for his kind smile and helpful nature. He was suffering from Down’s syndrome and autism and had special needs all his life, so his mother took care of every detail of his life, from feeding him to dressing him.” 

Mohammad’s father died when Mohammad was just 2 years old. Since then, he and his mother have received support through Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship program for over 20 years.

During Israel’s attacks over the past 9 months, the family has been forcibly displaced from their home multiple times, like most families in Gaza.  

The orphan sponsorship program provides regular cash payments to help vulnerable families pay for healthcare, education, shelter and other essentials.

Islamic Relief currently sponsors 15,700 orphaned children and youth in Gaza. Sponsorship begins when children are under 18 years old. However, they can be continued later while they remain in school or if they are particularly vulnerable, as in the case of Mohammed.

At least 117 children and young people cared for by our Orphan Sponsorship Program are known to have been killed during Israel’s attack on Gaza over the past 9 months.

We ask Allah (SWT) to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s children, orphans, and people more generally. Ya rabb, lift this barbarity, and replace it with victory and peace for our people. 

—Samir Bennegadi, Islamic Relief Australia CEO