By Yihya Sirhan

Two years have passed since the killing of Abd Al Nasser Sarhan, yet his family remains without answers, accountability, or even formal acknowledgment that their complaints have been properly addressed. For his loved ones, the passage of time has brought only prolonged grief, uncertainty and a growing sense that justice remains out of reach.

On 24th July 2024, Abd Al Nasser was fatally shot during an Israeli military operation. CCTV footage of the incident shows a number of men dressed in civilian clothing stepping out of a van, followed by uniformed Israeli soldiers. One of the civilian-dressed men raised a handgun and shot Abd Al Nasser while he was walking casually after just starting his duty as a customs officer. He died at the scene. Later it was revealed that those men were undercover Israeli special forces.

In the immediate aftermath, the Israeli military stated that its forces had encountered armed militants while attempting to detain two wanted individuals and that Abd Al Nasser had been killed during an exchange of fire. However, CCTV footage later appeared to contradict that account, showing no apparent firefight at the moment he was shot. Reports also indicated that an Israeli security official acknowledged the operation was under internal review because it “didn’t go as planned.”

Seeking accountability through legal channels, Abd Al Nasser’s father filed a complaint on 29th July 2024. The complaint was submitted through the Palestinian authorities to the Israeli authorities’ connections on 13th August 2024. Since then, repeated follow-up requests have been made, but no substantive response has been received. To date, there has been no confirmation that the complaint has been investigated, no update on its status, and no explanation for the prolonged delay.

In February 2025, still searching for answers, Abd Al Nasser’s father submitted a further complaint through the Israeli institution Beth Din, which forwarded the matter to the Israeli Attorney General. Despite this additional effort, there has again been no formal acknowledgment or meaningful response. The only information reportedly provided is that the complaint file remains “on hold.”

For Abd Al Nasser’s family, the silence has compounded their loss. Beyond mourning the death of a son, they have endured two years of uncertainty, waiting for information that has never come. The absence of official communication or visible progress has left them feeling abandoned by the very processes intended to provide accountability.

The family continues to call for an independent, transparent, and timely investigation into the circumstances surrounding Abd Al Nasser’s killing. They believe that every family who loses a loved one deserves clear answers and that allegations concerning the use of lethal force should be examined thoroughly and impartially.

As another year passes, the family says their search is no longer only about their own loss but also about the broader principle that every human life deserves dignity, accountability and equal protection under the law. They continue to hope that the unanswered questions surrounding Abd Al Nasser’s killing will one day receive a full and transparent response, allowing them to move closer to the truth and get justice after years of waiting.

Yihya Sirhan is a Palestinian living in north London.  Abd Al Nasser Sarhan was his nephew.