In Palestine, joy is fleeting—always shadowed by the spectre of Israeli gunfire. Just hours after celebrating his engagement, 27-year-old Mohammed Al-Haddoush was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper in Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. What had been a home filled with laughter and congratulations was transformed into a place of mourning.

Mohammed had just returned from Umrah and was still receiving well-wishes when a chilling message appeared on his Facebook page: “May he rest in peace, he was martyred.” His mother recalls his last moments—rushing out after hearing Israeli forces had stormed the camp, his body still fragrant from the perfume he had sprayed before leaving. “Mama, set the table. I’ll be right back,” he had told her. But he never returned.

His family had planned a gathering that evening to celebrate his engagement, but instead, they found themselves mourning his loss. Mohammed’s brother, Fouad, described his killing as a painful yet proud moment, knowing he had joined the long list of Palestinians killed in Gaza and the West Bank.

Mohammed was named after his uncle, a founding member of Al-Qassam Brigades, who was killed 31 years ago. Now, he follows in his footsteps—not in life, but in death. His funeral, attended by thousands, was a stark reminder of the ongoing toll of Israeli violence. Since the start of 2025, at least 70 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank alone, their lives cut short in a relentless cycle of loss and resistance.