طرود - Torood

The Arab SMEs Summit in Marrakech this year should have been a celebration of innovation and tenacity. Instead, it became a poignant reminder of the fragility of life, and the tragic loss of a young entrepreneur whose spirit shone brighter than any crisis. In 2022, at the inaugural Arab SMEs Summit in Amman, fate played a playful hand. A mistaken room assignment at the hotel brought me face-to-face with Mahmoud Abushawish, the founder of "طرود - Torood ," a startup born from the ashes of conflict in Gaza. What began as a lighthearted exchange of swapped keys and shared laughter soon blossomed into a deep connection. Mahmoud's story was one of extraordinary resilience. In a land riddled with hardship, he dared to dream, to build, to defy the limitations with Trood. We bonded over the conviction that even with minimal resources, audacious ideas can take flight. We stayed in touch, two youths separated by borders, yet united by a shared belief in the power of entrepreneurship. Our last conversation was on October 7th, amidst the escalating attacks in Gaza. We spoke of hope, of resilience, of meeting again at the Marrakech summit. But fate, it seems, had other plans. When news of Mahmoud's passing reached us at the summit, the air grew heavy with disbelief. He was gone, taken by the same violence he so valiantly sought to overcome. But even in his absence, his spirit reverberated through the halls inspiring youths to be resilient and to find their ways to succeed. طرود - Torood may be silent now, but his unwavering belief in a better future will continue to inspire young entrepreneurs across the Arab world. May his memory be a blessing, and may his journey become a symbol of the unyielding spirit of the Arab youth, determined to build a brighter tomorrow and lessons to learn about resilience, Surviving and Dignity. #gaza #ASMEs

We cannot stop speaking up for Gaza, We cannot perceive what’s happening as the new normal. Once again, I don’t post politics on LinkedIn, but the pace of killing civilians and the level of dehumanization has been much greater than in most other recent conflicts. The Gaza health authorities say that almost 16,500 people have been killed in the enclave so far, about 70 percent of them women and children. Almost one out of every 150 Palestinian children in Gaza have been killed in just two months. I came to know with heartbroken that Mahmoud Abushawish was killed in a strike in Gaza last week. Mahmoud was the co-founder of طرود - Torood and I had the honor to deal with him two times back in 2022! My deepest condolences go out to Mahmoud’s family, all who knew him, the thousands of families and everyone in the world who are mourning loved ones in Gaza. #SpeakupforGaza #istandwithpalestine #istandwithgaza

We are not just numbers In this photo you see Mahmoud Abushawish, one of the co-founders of طرود - Torood. Torood is a logistics company that tries to solve unique and tricky “challenges” that Palestinians in Gaza go through on a daily basis. Mahmoud had dreams, aspirations and worked hard to achieve them. Unfortunately, Mahmoud was killed by Israeli forces early this week. According to UNRWA, till today over 17,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza: 70% are women and children. Rest in power Mahmoud 🇵🇸 🕊️ #ceasefirenow

The RiseUp team is heartbroken to hear that Mahmoud Abushawish was killed by Israeli airstrike in Gaza, Palestine. Mahmoud was the co-founder of طرود - Torood, a Palestinian startup that exhibited at RiseUp Summit last year. We were incredibly honored to have showcased your dream project and entrepreneurial spirit. We were excited to see you grow. The massacres taking place in Gaza have been a harrowing experience for all of us. Our hearts go out to Mahmoud’s family and friends, and everyone in the world overwhelmed with the loss of countless loved ones in Gaza. Rest in Power.

The entrepreneurial community mourns the loss of Mahmoud Abushawish, co-founder of طرود - Torood, a pioneering logistics startup in #Palestine. His passing during the genocide war on #Gaza is a profound loss not only to his family but also to the MENA entrepreneurial sphere. Though I did not know Mahmoud personally, his impact on the #logistics industry and his resilience in the face of adversity have been inspiring. Being a Palestinian entrepreneur is extremely difficult (small market, limited resources, blockade and occupation), yet, Mahmoud and his co-founder managed to crack the market and build a dream out of it. It is sad to lose such quality of entrepreneurs. His legacy will continue to motivate aspiring us in the region and beyond. My deepest condolences go out to his family, co-founder Ezz Alakhras, and all who knew him. May his dedication and spirit continue to inspire us all. They might kill us, but they won't kill our dream of developing the region and becoming a leading nation. #ceasefirenow #stopthegenocide #restinpeace

Mourning the Loss of Mahmoud Abushawish the cofounder of طرود - Torood. A Tragic Blow to the #Startup Ecosystem. Each time, my heart feels like it cannot break any more, yet it does. Mahmoud, much like thousands of other civilians, became a victim of the ongoing genocide in #Gaza. His departure leaves behind his co-founder Ezz Alakhras, a wife, and children. Creating a startup is already challenging; doing so amidst occupation and siege is an unfathomable struggle. We hold Mahmoud in high regard, and his legacy will endure, inspiring many. Rest in power, Mahmoud.

It is with immense grief that we share the news of Mahmoud Abushawish’s death in Gaza. Mahmoud was the founder of طرود - Torood, a tech startup that supports the transformation of stores to the e-commerce realm in Palestine, and a graduate of our Boost Without Borders program. Having launched his startup in Gaza's extremely challenging environment, Mahmoud' s legacy will remain with us all. His incredible determination and willingness to have a positive impact against all odds has left an indelible mark in our startup community. Today, we echo the voices of hundreds of youth who were inspired by his resilience and his story. We extend our deepest condolences to Mahmoud’s family, his wife and children, his co-founder Ezz Alakhras, all other friends and the entire Palestinian startup community. We feel their loss and share their deep grief and pain. According to UNRWA, over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza: 70% are women and children. We demand a #ceasefire now.

It is with immense grief that we share the news of Mahmoud Abushawish’s death in Gaza. Mahmoud was the founder of  طرود - Torood, a tech startup that supports the transformation of stores to the e-commerce realm in Palestine, and a graduate of our Boost Without Borders program. Having launched his startup in Gaza's extremely challenging environment, Mahmoud' s legacy will remain with us all. His incredible determination and willingness to have a positive impact against all odds has left an indelible mark in our startup community. Today, we echo the voices of hundreds of youth who were inspired by his resilience and his story. We extend our deepest condolences to Mahmoud’s family, his wife and children, his co-founder Ezz Alakhras, all other friends and the entire Palestinian startup community. We feel their loss and share their deep grief and pain. According to UNRWA, over 15,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza: 70% are women and children. We demand a #ceasefire now.

محمود، حان الوقت حبيبي محمود، حاولت كثيراً تأجيل نعيك يا حبيبي ليس إنكاراً ولا جزعاً ولكن حديث القلب 35 يوم ولم ندفن محمود بعد يا صديقي ورفيقي وشريكي بكل اللحظات يا أصدق وأخلص وانقى وأشجع وأرقى من عرفت كُنتُ دائما أبحث عن ملاك لتلتقي معه روحي حتى وجدتك في طرود - Torood - ممتن للقدر أني من بحثت عنك واخترتك وطلبت قربك لتكون السند والرفيق ولم أكن أعلم في ذلك الوقت ماذا سنعمل سويا وما هو دورك ولماذا إصراري عليك حتى اكشتفت ذلك سريعاً فقد كنت شيء ليس له مثيل محمود، تشبهني وأشبهك ننوب عن بعضنا بدون تردد نعكس روح وفكرنا ويعرف ذلك كل من عرفنا، رايي ورايه واحد لا نختلف ولا نتعارض كنت احبك يا محمود رسمنا وخططنا في خيالنا لكثير من المغامرات والأفكار كنت أمين السر والنائب الامين والمدير المتفاني وصاحب الروح الإيجابية والطاقة المشعة خسارتك لا تعوض يا محمود خسرت الكثير برحيلك ولكني على يقين بأن الشهادة تختار أفضلنا فكنت أفضلنا وأشجعنا وأطهرنا كان اختيارك اصطفاء وتستحق فالحمد والشكر لك ربي محمود، سأكون وفيا. على طريقك محمود سأستمر، Mahmoud, It's Time. My dearest Mahmoud, I've tried so hard to postpone bidding you farewell, not out of denial or sorrow, but from the depths of my heart. It's been 35 days, and Mahmoud is yet to be buried and laid to rest. Oh, my friend, companion, and partner in every moment. You, the truest, purest, bravest, and noblest soul I've ever known. I was always searching for an angel to meet my soul, and I found you in Torood. I am grateful that fate led me to seek you, choose you, and request your closeness to be my support and companion. At that time, I didn't know what we would do together, what your role would be, or why I was so insistent on you. But I quickly discovered you were something incomparable. Mahmoud, you resemble me, and I resemble you. We complement each other without hesitation, reflecting our spirits and thoughts. Anyone who knew us could attest that our opinions were one and never different; I loved you, Mahmoud. We envisioned and planned numerous adventures and ideas in our minds. You were the secretary, vice secretary, and a dedicated manager. You were the one with the positive spirit and radiant energy. Your loss is irreplaceable, Mahmoud. I've lost so much with your departure, Mahmoud Anwer. But I am confident that martyrdom chooses the best among us, and you, being the best, bravest, and purest, were the chosen one. It was a selection, and you deserve it. Praise and thanks to you Allah. Mahmoud, I will remain faithful. On your path, Mahmoud, I will continue.

Palestine and Gaza lost one of its shining stars. I remember reading about Mahmoud's disappearance a few weeks ago. If I remember correctly, I think it was from a post shared by Leen Abubaker, where she mentioned that Mahmoud had gone up north and hadn't been heard from in a few weeks. I never met Mahmoud, but I can relate to his story. The struggle to build a startup is hard, feels impossible at times, and yet Mahmoud persevered with his company طرود - Torood. Until military actions from my country ended his life. And that is harsh. Unfair. Stories like Mahmoud's should be shared and reshared. They inspire us to rethink what we're doing and to reconsider our actions. Some choose military and aggressiveness. Others choose to build. Entrepreneurship is all about building. And Mahmoud was a builder.