Aussie killed by Israeli strike ‘had no links with Hezbollah’, friends say

Close friends of an Australian man killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his brother – who was claimed as a martyr by Hezbollah – have rushed to defend him.

Ibrahim Bazzi and his wife Shourouk Hammoud on their wedding day. Picture: Instagram / Wael Kassir Photography

Close friends of an Australian man killed in an Israeli airstrike alongside his brother – who was claimed as a martyr by Hezbollah – have rushed to defend him after his coffin was draped in the flag of the terror organisation.

Ibrahim Bazzi was described on Thursday as a friendly, hardworking construction worker, and friends said he never mentioned his sibling and had nothing to do with the militant group.

Ibrahim, 27, and brother Ali, 30, both confirmed to be Australian citizens, and Ibrahim’s wife, Shourouk Hammoud, were killed when a missile hit their two-storey house in the middle of the southern Lebanon town of Bint Jbeil.

In a statement following the deaths, Hezbollah declared Ali was one of its fighters.

“With greater pride … the Islamic Resistance celebrates the martyr Mujahid Ali Ahmed Bazzi ‘Qasim’ from the city of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, who rose as a martyr on the road to Jerusalem,” the group wrote on its official channels.

Early on Thursday (AEDT), a ceremonial funeral was held for all three members of the family, each casket adorned with Hezbollah flags and pictures of the three enlarged on a commemorative awning.

Friends of Ibrahim Bazzi said he travelled to Lebanon a week ago to visit his wife, who had just been granted a partner visa, and to bring her back to Sydney. While there, he planned to celebrate Christmas and the new year with his parents and had also scheduled Lasik surgery. “Nothing more, nothing less,” his friends said.

Friends of Ibrahim, known to them as “Bob”, painted a picture of a hardworking young man who was dedicated to building a better life for his wife and himself in Australia.

Ali Saab, who described himself as Ibrahim’s best mate, said he had dropped him off at the airport about a week ago for his flight.

Ibrahim Bazzi, left, with his brother Ali.

“The last time I saw him was at the airport to say goodbye,” Mr Saab said.

“I hugged Bob for the first time (at the airport). Called him back, and said ‘I want to hug you again’.

“We never thought this was going to happen. He didn’t have anything to do with this conflict, what’s going on in the Middle East, in Lebanon. He was a hardworking man, saving up to get his wife to Australia, and start a new life.

“He was looking for a house in Camden or Denham Court. He said we were going to be neighbours.”

The pair grew up together in Bint Jbeil, before meeting by chance again in southern Sydney in 2020, when Ibrahim moved to Australia. Ibrahim’s father had Australian citizenship, Mr Saab said.

Despite growing up together, and living together in Rockdale for the past two years, Mr Saab said Ibrahim never spoke about his brother. “He didn’t have a strong bond with his brother. He never mentioned his brother. Even though we grew up together, I never interacted with him.”

Ibrahim Bazzi and close friend Youssef Arbid, who posted on Facebook: “You will always be in our hearts. I will never forget you.” Picture: Facebook

Mr Saab said it “wasn’t fair” that Ibrahim was being lumped in with his brother as being part of Hezbollah. “I don’t know why they (the media) are putting Bob as Hezbollah, he used to work in asphalt and concrete. He had nothing to do with these people.”

Youssef Arbid, who worked with Ibrahim in civil construction, said he was a kind and joyful person who was “trying to build himself from scratch” in Australia.

He attached two posters of Ibrahim on his balcony, which read: “RIP / Ibrahim will always be in our hearts. 27/12/2023”.

“We were very close. I can’t believe such a sweetheart like Ibrahim is gone,” Mr Arbid said. “He’s too innocent to go through that.

“He never used to get involved with any politics or anything related to what’s happening. He was just working very hard, and wanted to put a deposit on a unit. I feel very sad … He never spoke about his brother. He was only thinking about putting a deposit down and getting his wife.

“He’s left a big gap, people are crying, young and old, it’s heartbreaking for all of us. We can’t believe it.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus refused to say whether the Australian government was aware of Ali Bazzi’s alleged connection to Hezbollah.