In a remarkable act of bravery, Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian father of two, received a $2.5 million check from grateful strangers after confronting an ISIS terrorist during a massacre at Bondi Beach.
According to Sean Hannity, al Ahmed, who remains hospitalized after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, was presented with the oversized check in Australian dollars, equivalent to approximately $1.65 million USD. This generous donation came from 43,000 supporters, moved by his courage during the Hanukkah attack that claimed 15 lives.
The moment was both quiet and powerful as social media influencer Zachery Dereniowski, who initiated the GoFundMe campaign, handed the check to al Ahmed. "I deserve it?" al Ahmed inquired softly, to which Dereniowski assured him, "Every penny."
Al Ahmed, a tobacco shop owner, had been taking cover behind parked cars when he made the split-second decision to charge at one of the gunmen, seizing his rifle and subduing him while under fire from a second assailant. His actions undoubtedly saved lives, yet his heroism has not been without controversy.
Despite his selfless act, al Ahmed has faced backlash from some fellow Muslims who have labeled him a traitor for aiding Jewish victims, highlighting the deep-seated animosity he defied that day.
His cousin recounted al Ahmed's resolve, stating, "He said, Im going to die please see my family [and tell them] that I went down to save peoples lives," capturing the gravity of his decision to face near-certain death. The attack saw one of the ISIS-inspired terrorists, Sajid Akram, 50, killed by police, while his son, Naveed Akram, 24, was injured and apprehended.
Ahmed al Ahmed's actions were not driven by a desire for heroism but by an unwillingness to turn a blind eye to the unfolding tragedy.
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