Palestinian amputee fitted for prosthetic leg in Cincinnati killed during attack on Gaza

A Palestinian amputee, who spent three months in Cincinnati to receive a prosthetic limb, was killed last month while being caught in the ongoing attacks on Gaza.

Twenty-three-year-old Mohammad Al Ajouri, along with his wife, son and other close relatives, died during a bombardment on Dec. 26 while living in the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, CAIR-Ohio said in a statement last week. He also had a brother who was killed in a separate attack only a couple of weeks prior.

Al Ajouri was once sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, which coordinates humanitarian work for children and adolescents affected by the war between Israel and Hamas-led military groups.

He is the seventh Palestinian killed during the war who had been previously brought to the US for treatment on a sponsorship from the children's relief fund.

"Mohammad touched the lives of many during his three months in Cincinnati," said PCRF Cincinnati Chapter President Deema Maghathe. "His resilience in the face of adversity served as an inspiration to all who met him and he will be remembered for his strength, indomitable spirit and unwavering determination."

Mohammad comes to Cincinnati

In 2018, Al Ajouri, 17 years old at the time, was selected by PCRF to be fitted for the prosthesis in Cincinnati after a bullet struck his leg while participating in the March of Return protests. Cincinnati serves as a hub for the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund's efforts due to the city's high availability of medical resources.

A high-tech prosthesis was donated to Al Ajouri by College Park Industries with the help of patient advocate Reggie Showers, a below-the-knee double amputee, two-time world champion motorcycle racer and motivational speaker. The prosthetic services were administered by a clinic in Dayton, Ohio.

During his three-month stay in the Queen City, Al Ajouri left his mark on the Ohio community. He spent ample time forging deep connections with community members of all backgrounds, inspiring them with his story of resilience.

"Despite the hardships he faced, Mohammad had a positive attitude and always wore a smile on his face," said Arwa Atwan, whose family volunteered to host Al Ajouri while he was in Cincinnati. "His courage had a profound impact on my family and we are so thankful to have met him and been a part of his journey."

A passion for athletics and giving back

Prior to losing his leg, Al Ajouri lived an active lifestyle in Gaza where he enjoyed playing soccer, running in marathons, swimming, cycling and shot put and was a bronze medalist in the Gaza marathon.

After he was fitted with his prosthetic leg, Al Ajouri eventually returned to his passion for athletics in Gaza. He started playing on an amputee soccer team and set goals to compete in a triathlon and become a soccer coach.

Al Ajouri was also an active participant in the relief fund's Camp Ability, a youth amputee camp in Gaza where he served as a mentor and an inspiration to other amputee children for four years. The camp provides psychological, social, and educational support for the 120 children who lost limbs as a result of wars, birth defects or accidents, according to the fund's website.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Palestine refugee dies in attack after coming to Ohio for prosthesis