Mahmoud Almadhoun, a 33-year-old father of seven, was on a heartfelt mission early Saturday morning. He was heading to Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, with a delivery of fresh produce for the hundreds of patients trapped in the besieged area. But his journey ended in tragedy.
An Israeli drone strike hit Mahmoud, killing him instantly, according to his family. His brother, Hani Almadhoun, now living in Virginia, shared the devastating news. “They targeted him,” Hani said. “This wasn’t an accident.”
When a friend tried to rush Mahmoud to the hospital, their efforts were cut short by gunfire, Hani explained. “Sniper fire surrounded them, forcing them to abandon their mission,” he said. With no options left, they took Mahmoud home, said their goodbyes, and buried him quickly.
This wasn’t Mahmoud’s first encounter with danger. Over the past year, he had been detained twice by Israeli forces in northern Gaza. Both times, he was released without charge. “They had no case against him, so they let him go,” Hani said.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza, intensified since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, has devastated countless families, turned neighborhoods into displacement zones, and created a humanitarian crisis marked by severe hunger and disease. In just one recent incident, an airstrike in southern Gaza’s Al Mawasi area—designated as a humanitarian zone—killed at least 20 people, including 11 children. The Israeli military described the strike as a targeted attack on Hamas militants but acknowledged civilian casualties.
The toll of this conflict has been staggering. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 44,502 Palestinians have been killed, with over 105,454 injured. Among the victims are 180 members of Mahmoud’s extended family, including his brother Majed, Majed’s wife, and their four children, who were killed in an airstrike last winter.
Mahmoud leaves behind his wife, Alaa, and their seven children, including a baby girl named Aline, born just two weeks ago. His family has since fled to another neighborhood in northern Gaza, unsure of what the future holds without their sole provider.
Before the war, Mahmoud owned a small shop selling mobile devices. But after Israeli airstrikes destroyed his business, he devoted himself to feeding those in need. His soup kitchen in northern Gaza served meals to hundreds of families daily. “Thank God we survived physically,” Mahmoud told a reporter in September. “That is our greatest victory.”
Even as Israel’s attacks escalated, Mahmoud refused to abandon his community. In his final days, he worked tirelessly to deliver food to families and the hospital, despite the risks. “When we urged him to leave the north, he said, ‘I can’t leave as long as people need me,’” his cousin Yahya Almadhoun shared.
With aid to northern Gaza nearly nonexistent since October, the situation has become dire. The UN has warned of imminent famine in the area, and the little aid that trickles through is far from sufficient.
For Hani, the loss of his brother is a harsh reminder of the larger tragedy unfolding in Gaza. “This isn’t a targeted operation,” he said. “This is ethnic cleansing. They’re killing everyone, destroying homes, and leaving nothing behind.”
Reflecting on Mahmoud’s life, Hani added, “He was a kind soul, helping people survive famine. That’s why he was targeted. He cared too much, and he paid the price for it.”
