Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer has been appointed as the new Ambassador of Palestine to India, succeeding Adnan Abu Al Haija, who recently retired and returned to Tunis to join his family.
“Under normal circumstances, becoming chargé d’affaires would be a moment for celebration, but for Mr. Abu Jazer, this new role comes with emotional challenges,” reported The Hindu. Born and educated in Gaza, Abu Jazer and his family have been deeply affected by the ongoing genocide there, which casts a shadow over his appointment.
For the initial seven months of the crisis, he endured sleepless nights as his wife, Naela, and their children remained trapped in Gaza. Though Rafah, where they lived, initially faced fewer bombings, worsening attacks and food shortages soon became severe. After weeks of effort, they managed to reach Cairo, where he reunited with them in May. Now, his primary concern is the wellbeing of his 90-year-old father, Mohammad Abu Jazer, who recently moved from Rafah to Khan Younis with his youngest son.
“The situation in Rafah is dire. I can hardly connect with my father, perhaps once every 7 to 10 days,” he shared. “He has been constantly displaced, and food is nearly impossible to find. There’s no food in the markets or at home. Money is useless.”
A seasoned journalist, Abu Jazer built a home in Rafah during his reporting career, which spans over two decades, including coverage of the 1996 Palestinian elections that brought Yasser Arafat’s Fatah party to power. His journalism journey began at Kuwait’s Al Qabas and continued with Qatar’s Al Watan and Al Hayat Al Jadida.
Prior to his posting in New Delhi in 2014, he served as a press advisor to the Palestinian Authority in Gaza.
