[News] He Refused to Collaborate, So They Killed Him - Why Israel Turned against the Gaza Clans

[Anti-Imperialist News]

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He Refused to Collaborate, So They Killed Him - Why Israel Turned against
the Gaza ClansMarch 22, 2024
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Mukhtar Ismail al-Nono was killed by Israel on March 20. (Photo: via AJA)

*By Palestine Chronicle Staff
<https://www.palestinechronicle.com/writers/palestine-chronicle-staff>*

Israeli warplanes bombed al-Nono’s home on March 20, killing him along with
his wife, two of his children and two grandchildren.

Palestinian institutions and figures accused Israel of deliberately
assassinating Mukhtar Ismail al-Nono, a renowned Gaza dignitary who refused
to collaborate with Israel in its attempt to create an alternative to Hamas
in the Strip.

For weeks, Israel has been laboring to create an alternative governing body
in Gaza.

Repeatedly, however, representatives of clans and large families have
refused to work with Israel. This rejection, however, came at a price. On
March 19, 23 clan committee members, who were involved in aid distribution
efforts, were killed in a gruesome Israeli massacre at the Kuwait
Roundabout in Gaza City.

Then, Israel began killing individuals within the Gaza police who are
responsible for coordinating aid distribution with the Gaza clans. Three
top police officers were assassinated between Monday and Tuesday. They
included Fayeq al-Mabhouh, who was assassinated when Israeli forces stormed
Al-Shifa Medical Complex on Monday.

Al-Nono is the latest casualty.

Israeli warplanes bombed al-Nono’s home on March 20, killing him along with
his wife, two of his children and two grandchildren, Al-Jazeera reported.

The murder of the respected Gaza elder followed Israel’s failure to assuage
the clans to betray the Gaza government and resistance.

When it became obvious that its plan was not working, Israel agreed with
the UN Palestinian refugees agency, UNRWA, for the latter to take charge of
the humanitarian aid, which would ultimately be delivered to starving
Palestinians using clan members.

Soon after, however, the Israelis canceled the agreement and massacred
dozens of clan members, followed by some leaders of the clans.

In a press statement commenting on the targeting of activists involved in
the distribution of aid, UNRWA media adviser Adnan Abu Hasna said that
Israel “did not provide an explanation for its withdrawal from arrangements
to provide aid to northern Gaza.”
*Ismail al-Nono*

Ismail al-Nono, 58 was a businessman who owned Alpha Electronics, a company
specializing in telecommunications services.

In addition to his businesses, al-Nono played a prominent role in social
and charitable activities, chairing the Salah al-Din area reform committee
east of Gaza City, in addition to being chosen as the leader for the
al-Nono family.

Over the past few years, al-Nono sponsored many initiatives aimed at
sustaining peace in Gaza City, working with other clans to resolve social
problems and support those in need.

Last February, al-Nono posted on Facebook that Israel had burned his house
down, destroying it completely several days later, along with the
headquarters of his company.
*Reasons for Assassination*

The Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, Ismail
Al-Thawabta, confirms that the assassination of al-Nono is directly related
to his refusal to cooperate with the occupation.

In a statement sent to Aljazeera.net, he said that “Mukhtar Ismail al-Nono
and his family were assassinated against the background of his refusal to
cooperate with the occupation in the subject of aid as an alternative to
the administrative reality in the Gaza Strip.”

Al-Thawabta condemned “Israeli terrorism” in targeting the man who has
labored to provide urgent aid to the starved and displaced refugees
throughout Gaza.

He stressed that the popular committees do not work under the framework of
Hamas or its government in Gaza, but according to an agreement between
international organizations, meaning UNRWA, and the Israeli occupation.

For his part, the head of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Rami
Abdo, revealed that al-Nono “categorically rejected” offers from the
Israeli occupation authorities to cooperate with them in distributing aid,
and “managing the affairs of the Gaza Strip” as an alternative to Hamas.

“Several meetings were held in which al-Nono participated, and he, along
with other mukhtars, rejected the Israeli proposals, and rejected any
violation of the rule of law in the Gaza Strip,” he said.

Even then, al-Nono and other family elders continued to receive calls from
the Israeli Coordinator of Army Activities for West Bank and Gaza Strip,
demanding that they must cooperate.

Al-Nono’s answer, as conveyed by Abdo, was firm: “This will not happen, and
there will be no cooperation with Israel as an occupying power.”

Al-Nono was later directly threatened that he would ‘lose’, as in he will
pay a price for his refusal to collaborate with Israel, leading to his
assassination with his wife and other members of his family on March 20.

*(AJA, PC)*
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