95 Years Since the Execution of the Three Martyrs: Mohammad Jamjoum, Fuad Hijazi, and Ata al-Zeer

Today, June 17, marks the 95th anniversary of the execution of the three Palestinian freedom fighters—Mohammad Jamjoum, Fuad Hijazi, and Ata al-Zeer—by the British Mandate authorities.

On this day in 1930, the three martyrs were executed in the Citadel Prison in the city of Acre, despite widespread Arab condemnation and protests.

Their story began after the British authorities arrested a group of young Palestinians following the outbreak of the Al-Buraq Uprising, which was triggered on August 14, 1929, when Jewish groups organized a massive demonstration marking what they called the “anniversary of the destruction of the Temple of Solomon.” The next day, they held another large protest in the streets of Jerusalem, ending at the Al-Buraq Wall (Western Wall), where they chanted the Zionist national anthem and shouted insults at Muslims.

On the following day, Friday, August 16, which coincided with the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, thousands of Muslims—including the three martyrs—gathered to defend the Al-Buraq Wall, which Jewish groups had expressed intentions to seize. Clashes broke out across Palestine.

British police later arrested 26 Palestinians involved in the defense of Al-Buraq. All were initially sentenced to death, but 23 of them had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Only Mohammad Jamjoum, Fuad Hijazi, and Ata al-Zeer were left to face execution.

The Mandate authorities set June 17, 1930, as the execution date. The three martyrs faced death with courage and defiance.

Mohammad Jamjoum insisted on being the first to be executed and was granted his wish. Ata al-Zeer, the last to be hanged, requested that he not be bound during execution; his request was denied, so he broke his shackles himself and walked to the gallows with his head held high.

Ata al-Zeer was born in Hebron, worked in manual labor and agriculture, and was known for his physical strength and bravery. He took part in protests against the increasing influx of Zionist settlers to Palestine.

Mohammad Khalil Jamjoum, also from Hebron, received his primary education in the city and actively resisted both the British Mandate and Zionist aggression. He led protests against the seizure of Palestinian land and was arrested due to his participation in uprisings defending Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Fuad Hijazi, the youngest of the three, was born in Safed. He studied at the Scottish College and later attended the American University of Beirut. He was known from a young age for his courage, patriotism, and fierce resistance to Zionism. He played a major role in the revolutionary movement in his city during the 1929 uprising.