No sooner had the young Gazan, Youssef Saqr Abu Rabie, mourned two of his friends who were martyred this Monday morning in Beit Lahia, than people began to mourn Youssef himself, only 4 hours after his post on the social networking site Facebook.
During the period of starvation in northern Gaza, Youssef became famous for his continuous attempts to farm despite all the difficult circumstances and the scarcity of water and tools. He continued his work on his initiative “We will plant it,” encouraging people to plant in every place that can be planted: roofs, lands, balconies, and even demolished homes, declaring that he will He helps in planting seeds, giving cuttings, and teaching people for free how they can plant and care for more plants, an initiative that continued for months before the news of his martyrdom was announced amid a state of shock that overwhelmed everyone who knew Youssef Saqr Abu Rabie.
Resist the occupation’s famine by “planting seedlings”
In the midst of the demolished buildings, and his land that had been bulldozed, Youssef used to sit and plant seeds and small cuttings in order to grow them before planting them in the ground to become crops of different colors.
In a previous interview with Tel Aviv Tribune about his initiative, he described what he used to do as an “act of resistance” and said: “I speak with all frankness, I do not expect to live long, because I am doing the thing that most drives the occupiers crazy. I am returning to what they want to prevent us from doing. They are killing us.” They suffocate us in every way, so that we do not rise, so the ideas that come to me all point in one direction: to revitalize our sector and achieve self-sufficiency. We lived for a long time in northern Gaza on hibiscus plants in the midst of famine, until with time they became scarce due to the end of their season. There were no There is no way to get food from the land except by returning to the land. That is why I returned and brought back a number of farmers with me, despite the very great danger, because this thing is not easy. We planted quick crops like arugula, zucchini, and molokhiya.”
He added, “This was my plan, despite the scarcity of water and the lack of fuel to operate irrigation motors and other important basic needs. But I was not satisfied with this, so I launched the initiative (We Will Plant It) in the hope that everyone who can will join it, even if they do not have experience. I decided to help everyone in To plant everything they have, whether roofs, destroyed houses, or anything else, for me to help provide containers, soil with fertilizer, for us to take advantage of any available resources to plant some zucchini, molokhiya, and beans.”
Abu Rabie continued, “Water is scarce, but I wanted to provide seeds and seedlings so that those who obtain them should strive to obtain water in order to continue. We must strengthen our steadfastness to survive and hope to change the situation. If we continue to wait for aid in the form of airdrops or crossings, we will not achieve anything. We must We produce and make our own food. I am a son of this country and this is my message.”
Youssef Saqr Abu Rabie, son of the city of Beit Lahia, was studying agriculture in his last year, when he was about to become an agricultural engineer specializing in plant protection, a profession that he inherited from his father from his grandfather. He used to be very proud of it, considering it to be the real hope of survival. He says: “My father is a farmer.” I live in an agricultural environment and I am also a farmer, and I specialize in growing strawberries, in addition to the vegetables for which the city of Beit Lahia is famous worldwide in terms of quality, production and diversity.”
His last will and testament
In his previous conversation with Tel Aviv Tribune, the martyr Youssef Abu Rabie expressed a set of wishes and commandments, and said: “I want Beit Lahia to return to what it was. I want us to rise up despite what is happening to us, to forget the war and everything that has passed, and to start over, despite everything.” The difficulties and surrounding circumstances are difficult, but we must challenge the reality and the difficult circumstances that we are experiencing. I am very optimistic that we will succeed and that we will convey to all the peoples of the world that the people of Gaza are productive and capable of overcoming the effects of war.”
He added: “My hope is that our image in front of the whole world will be that we are a people searching for ways of life, and continue to give, survive, and persevere despite everything that is being done to them, and that no matter what happens to us, we will return. As soon as the war ends, we will return to what we were and better. We only wish for it to stand.” The people and the world are with us. Whoever cannot support with money, let him support by publishing and conveying our voice and our suffering to the people. For me, this is enough.”
He saved many in famine
Youssef Abu Rabie’s personal page on the social networking site Facebook was crowded with posts lamenting and praising his efforts during his short life. Khaled Rasim wrote: “Youssef was the first person to plant since the beginning of the famine, and had it not been for him in northern Gaza, we would not have found anything to eat. Youssef was martyred today. He finished and did not talk anymore.” As for Eid Mustafa, he wrote: “The heroic martyr Youssef, the owner of the We Will Plant Initiative, died this afternoon. He was the first to work hard to cultivate the fallow land in Beit Lahia in northern Palestine and eliminate famine.”
Youssef Nabil Rajab said: “Youssef, the son of the earth, rose this afternoon, being faithful to his stances and thoughts. He planted the barren land and revived the barren spirit. He plowed, sowed, watered, produced fruit, and lived, and when the time of the test came, he imbued with his blood the fertile land that does not fade. Peace be upon you, beautiful Yusuf, oh Kahil.” “The eyes, the beautiful heart, and the smiley will remain in our hearts a tender flower that will not wither.”