Continuation of the story of the Bosniak veteran Ćamil Rustemović from the Palestine War in 1948.
(read past threads for full context)
Thread 🧵 [PART 5/5]
(read past threads for full context)
Thread 🧵 [PART 5/5]
In the southern Lebanon, he commanded a unit of Bosniak volunteers who successfully liberated the occupied village of Al-Malikiyya near the border where four Bosniaks were martyred. He said: “I taught the enemy in Al-Malikiyah a harsh lesson when I mined the road with explosives.
I was watching the enemies that started crossing the road in the early hours of the morning, playing music and singing. That scene cannot be erased from my memory. The sound of explosions began to shake the space, military vehicles flying, panic setting in, chaos prevailing [...]
My concern at that moment was to be able to arrest the largest number of them before those who survived escaped. More than 25 soldiers were killed in that battle, I was able to withdraw 7 armored vehicles, capture the driver of one of them and hand him over to the Lebanese army.”
Rustemović also recounted the Battle of Al-Manar, situated between the cities of Manar & Nabi Yusha. “I strategically placed mines on the road. There were 60 of us, all Arabs except for me, I was the sole Bosniak among them. The Israelis advanced, singing & seemingly unthreatened
Upon detonating the first mine, they hastily abandoned their vehicles and attempted to flee. As each one jumped off, we engaged in gunfire. Those who managed to escape survived, while the others were shot. I captured one soldier who remained in his vehicle...
Speaking to him in German, I instructed him to leave the vehicle, and subsequently handed him over to the Lebanese army." From these stories, we can conclude that Ćamil was a highly trained fighter with a lot of experience who managed to capture many Zionist soldiers in ambushes.
This is confirmed by the statement about the situation that happened years after the war. He said: “In 1982, when the Israelis entered Lebanon and occupied the capital Beirut, they wanted my head even though I was an officer of the Lebanese army...”
“In September 1948 I killed twelve Israeli soldiers in an ambush & buried them in a valley between two villages, Ajtarun & Blida, inside Lebanese territory. Likewise, when I came to propose to my current wife, her father asked for a dowry from an Israeli soldier, living or dead.”
“Although he, I later found out, was joking, I took it seriously because I didn’t understand Arabic very well at the time. As I was an expert in anti-tank mines, I knew the route that the Israeli troops regularly pass, I blew up a car with 3 Israelis. Two died and one survived.”
“It was this alive, unharmed one that I brought as my own dowry to my future father-in-law. Bursting with laughter, he explained to me that he was joking & gave me his daughter’s hand. I handed the poor Israeli over to the Lebanese army & I no longer know what happened to him.”🗿
“It was because of that Israeli they were looking for and because of those twelve killed, that the Israel issued a warrant for me. As they failed to find me, they destroyed the graves of eight Yugoslavs in revenge.” he stated.
In autumn 1948, the Salvation Army withdrew from the southern villages, he didn’t know the reason for this withdrawal. However, later Ćamil became a sergeant in the Lebanese army under the name Kamel Rustom, on April 1, 1950.
Fawzi Al-Qawuqji (in the photo) congratulated him and presented him with a jeep as a token of appreciation for his successful achievements. He didn’t give up his military work, as he returned to serve in the artillery regiment that was based in Beirut.
However, he didn’t give up his military work, as he returned to serve in the artillery regiment that was based in Beirut. After a few months, he moved to the Fifth Regiment in Ablah as a trainer for the regiment’s members. From Ablah, hejoined the sniper regiment in Marjayoun.
He worked there as an armored vehicles trainer, specializing in mechanics. When the 2nd Armored Battalions were formed in Marjayoun in 1956, he was among many from these battalions that later moved to Beirut in 1958 soon returned to the Tyre Barracks where he remained until 1961.
Between 1961 & 1979, there were many years during which Rustam continued his service. In the ranks of the army with enthusiasm, discipline & courage. One of the important events embedded in his memory was what happened in 1972 during the 4th Infantry Regiment’s return to Beirut.
The regiment was ambushed in the area between Tyre & Qasmiyeh by gunmen who fired rockets at the convoy. With his courage and wisdom, Rustem was able to control the situation, so the gunmen were forced to withdraw and the convoy arrived in Beirut safely.
In 1979, this man’s sacrifices had to take a final break, so he was discharged from the army with the rank of first lieutenant, carrying on his chest the War Medal, the silver to bronze medals of merit and the military medal.
With his wife Karima, Ćamil had twelve children, seven daughters & five sons. “Some of them know a bit of Bosnian. I don't know, unfortunately, but to everyone who asks me where I'm from and who I am, I talk about my Bosniak roots and I'm proud of it. Very proud.” said Sara.
When asked about others: “Unfortunately, I don't know any of his comrades that came with him from Bosnia. I heard that most of them stayed in Lebanon, that they married Lebanese women & started families here, but we don't have contact. Thank you for remembering my grandfather.”
“I’m honored to be part of an article about him. I hope that Bosniaks are also proud of him, at least partly as proud as Palestinians and Lebanese are.” (btw the interview was published by some media house, but I didn't find out which one exactly, it was reposted by more portals)
Finally, this is where the story about Ćamil ends, the interview was conducted in 2006 or 2007. Ćamil passed away a couple of years ago. May Allah have mercy on him and grant him Jannah as well as all our martyrs who gave their lives defending Palestine from the Zionists. Ameen.
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