'Real hero': Dearborn mourns loss of resident killed by Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon
The death of a Lebanese-American businessman, Hajj Kamel Ahmad Jawad, in an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon on Monday, has sparked an outpouring of grief in his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan
Jawad, 56, is reported to be the first US citizen to be killed in the ongoing Israeli assault on the country, and is among the upwards of 1,000 Lebanese who have died from Israeli attacks within the last couple of weeks.
Thousands have been wounded and over a million have been displaced, according to Lebanese officials.
Jawad was heavily active in the community, and many of those who knew him, from leaders of the community to the children of lifelong friends, have taken to social media to tell stories of his positive impact on Dearborn, the first Arab-majority city in Michigan, more than half of which are Lebanese.
This is Kamel Ahmad Jawad, a resident of Dearborn, Michigan, killed by Israel's strikes on Lebanon.
— Mai El-Sadany (@maitelsadany) October 3, 2024
According to his family, Kamel spent his final days at "Nabatieh's main hospital, helping provide the elderly, disabled, injured & poor with food, mattresses and other comforts." https://t.co/64fJrmQNs6 pic.twitter.com/sud4LAnPC1
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
"Today, my friend, Kamel Jawad of Dearborn, Michigan was murdered by an Israeli air strike in Lebanon. Israel killed an American citizen with weapons provided by the US government," a person posted on X.
Today, my friend, Kamel Jawad of Dearborn, Michigan was murdered by an Israeli air strike in Lebanon
— Hamzah Raza (@raza_hamzah) October 1, 2024
Israel killed an American citizen with weapons provided by the US government
One of the kindest and most generous humans I ever met
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون pic.twitter.com/7pxG3m5PqL
His wife and four children, who are not speaking to the press at this time, said in a statement that Jawad spent his last days near the main hospital in his village, Nabatieh, “to help the elderly, disabled, injured, and those who simply couldn’t financially afford to flee”.
Detroit News reported that Jawad was also taking care of his elderly mother.
His daughter, Nadine, wrote: “Many others, just like him, risk their lives every day to alleviate the mass suffering caused by Israel’s genocide in Gaza that now spreads violence through Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Lebanon. My father’s actions are part of a much larger movement of people who refuse to stay silent in the face of oppression.
“The fact that he was an American citizen should not make his story more important than others.”
Jawad’s death has put a spotlight on the US government’s failure to protect its citizens on the ground in Lebanon.
President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that it contracted its first flight to evacuate US citizens from Beirut to Istanbul, Turkey, nine days after Israel started its offensive in Lebanon.
Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib mentioned Jawad’s death in a tweet criticising the State Department for “failing to protect their own citizens”.
Lance Corporal Haidar is among 148 residents we have been desperately trying to help evacuate from Lebanon. One of my constituents was already killed in an Israeli airstrike.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) October 3, 2024
The @StateDept is leaving Americans behind and failing to protect their own citizens. https://t.co/Sljpbd1Pf8
She also dedicated a post to Kamel on Facebook where she said, “this killing hit hard”.
Tlaib’s colleague, Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, also expressed her condolences and said that she and her husband have known the Jawad family for more than 40 years.
He was there to help, taking food to people in need. His wife works for Crestwood school district in Dearborn. They are Americans who love our country & love Lebanon. Too many people are dying. The escalation is a threat to the world. We need an immediate ceasefire, & need peace.
— Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) October 1, 2024
The White House also expressed its condolences, and that they ”are deeply saddened” by his death, Reuters reported.
While condolences from state officials continue to pour in, social media platforms have been flooded with pictures and messages dedicated to Jawad.
A friend of Jawad's took to Facebook with a picture of them at a wedding, writing, “We miss you already brother, my HS (high school) classmate and a brother to me.”
Another community member, who said Jawad was a close friend of his father, wrote, “For years, Hajj Kamel would go down to Lebanon with all the money he had and help everyone he saw. He would come back to Michigan, work all day, every day, take down all the money the following trip, and do the same. Everyone has seen this with their own eyes. This man was the real deal old-school Hajj legend.”
"No one would ever know how much he really did for the people - they have no clue he exists," the post continued.
"Unknown on earth, known in the heavens. Real hero."
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
