The founding leader, Yasser Arafat, remains embedded in the collective memory of the Palestinian people, especially during this time of loss and reflection. Personally, my connection with him, as his nephew, began early in life. This was before the Palestinian revolution truly ignited, and Abu Ammar stayed the night with us. As a child, my biggest curiosity was knowing the number of Fedayeen, believing it would reassure me of our inevitable victory.
Another memorable encounter took place in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, then a leader of the Non-Aligned Movement. By then, Abu Ammar had risen to prominence as a global leader and was close to President Joseph Tito. During that meeting, he handed me a hundred dollarsโa small fortune at the time, and an unforgettable gesture of his support and encouragement.
In general, Abu Ammar deeply valued his family connections, particularly with his siblings, starting with Hajja Inaam, may she rest in peace. Near the end of her life, he made it a priority to visit her daily in the hospital in Gaza, honouring her as the one who raised him after his mother's passing. Then there was my mother, Yusra, whom he also held in deep affection.
However, as his official responsibilities grew, his personal relationships became less frequent, including our own. Often, our interactions came through my younger sister, for whom he had a special fondness. He even brought her to Beirut for a period. I recall visiting her in a modest apartment in the Fakhani neighbourhood, where Abu Ammar himself lived. Her place lacked air conditioning, and I found him there, trying to shake off a cold.
We spent some time together, and slowly, our close connection began to rekindle. Not long after, I reminded him of an old promise. One unforgettable memory took place in Tunisia. I went to visit him, and once again, he was nursing a cold, dressed in a casual sports outfit.
