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The surgeon who was the director of the National Hospital in Nablus, and who was neither originally from Nablus nor born there, when the decision came to transfer him outside of Nablus, preferred to resign and stay there, saying: “Nablus is my country, and I loved its people and they loved me.”
Ahmad Sururi was born in Jerusalem in 1908 to a family that traces its lineage back to Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Ghanem, one of the commanders of Saladin’s army, who established a corner on one of the peaks of Mount Gerizim in Nablus, known as the corner of Sheikh Ghanem.
He studied at the Rawdat al-Ma'arif National School and College in Jerusalem, excelling in his studies and graduating in 1925. He then enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the American University of Beirut around 1926, from which he graduated with honors in medicine and surgery in 1932.
He returned to Jerusalem and opened a private clinic in Bab al-Amud. He worked with all his might to treat people and alleviate their pain. His period of work was not long until he was appointed Director of Health for Jenin in 1933. In May 1934, he was appointed Director and Surgeon at the National Hospital in Nablus. Throughout his years of work at the hospital, through his competence and great therapeutic services, which were characterized by a high level of refined humanity based on love, he became connected with the people of the city with strong relationships that made him feel that he was among his family, neighbors, and friends. The people felt this feeling and loved Dr. Ahmed and considered him one of them and a son of the city of Nablus because of how much he loved it and loved them.
In November 1945, the decision came to transfer him from Nablus, but he refused the transfer and preferred to resign, saying: Nablus is my country, I loved its people and they loved me. The Arab Medical Association in the Nablus district held a large honorary ceremony for him at the Palestine Hotel in Nablus on the occasion of his retirement from his job at the National Hospital.
He opened a private clinic in Nablus and performed surgeries at the Evangelical Hospital. Dr. Ahmed Sururi was one of the founders of the Palestinian Arab Medical Association in Palestine, as well as one of the founders of the association in the Greater Nablus District. He was a member of the National Committee in Nablus and was the first to train young men and women in first aid lessons.
He continued to serve the people of the city with utmost sincerity and dedication, and maintained a high level of scientific expertise in his field of work by keeping abreast of the latest developments in medicine in general and in surgery in particular. This enabled him to treat various and the most difficult medical cases, and to heal patients who grew increasingly impressed, loved, and respected his position and efforts.
He distinguished himself among the country's doctors, until he was elected in 1954 as the head of the doctors' syndicate in the Kingdom. He was one of the first founders of the Red Crescent in the Kingdom, and the founder of the Red Crescent branch in Nablus and its first president in 1950. During his presidency of the Red Crescent in Nablus, he established the first home for the elderly in Nablus.
Dr. Ahmed continued to serve the people and the country and did not stop working in his Nablus clinic.
In 1959, he was appointed mayor of Nablus after it became impossible to reach an agreement in Nablus on holding elections for a mayor and municipal council.
During his years as mayor of Nablus, he provided the city with services whose effects are still visible today, most notably the structural plan for the city of Nablus and the expansion of its roads and streets, which was completed during his term. In 1960, during his term, the Nablus Municipal Library was established and opened, becoming the first public library in both banks of the Jordan River. This cultural landmark benefited thousands of the city's sons and daughters, enriching their culture, literature, and sciences, which formed an important aspect of their awareness and understanding, contributing to their progress and the progress of their city. He also established the Nablus Municipal Park for families.
During his time, land was allocated for the construction of Rafidia Hospital, which was later established, as well as land for the construction of Al-Junaid Governmental Hospital, which was completed but was not used for the purpose for which it was planned. The doctor was among the first to be credited with developing infrastructure projects, including water, electricity, streets, and many urban development projects.
Dr. Ahmed Sururi was one of the founders of An-Najah National University in Nablus and was a member of its Board of Trustees. He was credited, during his chairmanship of the Nablus Municipal Council, with allocating land for the construction of An-Najah University later on.
In 1964 he became a member of the first Palestinian National Council that was established, then he became the deputy head of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
He died in the city of Nablus, which he loved and which loved him, in 1988. May God have mercy on him and grant him spacious gardens in Paradise. His fragrant memory will continue to emanate from the sides of Nablus, between the peaks of Gerizim and Ebal, which witnessed his loyalty and the sincerity of his belonging to Nablus, which always loved him.
From Rafik Haddad's blog
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