On this day one year ago, the brave, bold, and defiant Adam Ayyad ascended to martyrdom at 15 years old in the ever-resistant Red Castle, Dheisheh camp. He threw his final Molotov towards occupation forces before an IOF sniper shot him. His parents lost their only son, a brave young man who rushed to defend his camp and people without hesitation.

"I am telling you all to set your compass and point it towards the occupation."
"Martyrdom is victory."
"I hope that you will not forget me."
"I do not want to tell you goodbye."

These words, from Adam's will, are inscribed in the collective memory of our nation.

The PFLP, in mourning Adam, wrote "He was always at the forefront in defending the camp's soil...What was in the will of martyr Ayyad is the best evidence of the correct, principled choices taken by our people's revolutionaries in resisting the occupation in various ways."

Within three weeks, Adam Ayyad, and his comrades Amr Al-Khamour and Omar Manaa, ascended to martyrdom in Bethlehem's Dheisheh camp. The camp had, for a moment, lost its guardians, only to be replaced by new ones, never dropping the banner.

In his will, he reiterated the words of his role model, martyr Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi: "O Allah, grant us steadfastness, victory, or martyrdom." These words were repeated on his Facebook page, where his profile picture was set to a photo of him with martyr Omar Manaa.

Adam wrote,
"Either we are greats above the earth, or we are bones in its belly."
and "When the bullets run out...martyrdom is closer to the wounded homeland. Glory, all glory, to our heroic martyrs."

Adam's story is a testament to the fervor of the resistant youth determined to liberate their homeland:
"Hello, my name is Adam Issam Ayyad,
and our generation will liberate Palestine."

You may also read the will of 15-year-old Amr Al-Khamour, martyred in Dheisheh two weeks after Adam Ayyad.

The similarities in their final testaments should not escape notice. Both went out to resist with their wills in their pockets. This simple, poignant act is a reflection of the conscious sacrifices that young Palestinians make for liberation, knowing they might be martyred at any moment. They resist fearlessly knowing the risks they are born into.

Like Adam, Amr began his will with a quote from the martyr Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi: "O Allah, steadfastness, victory, or martyrdom."

Of martyrdom, Adam wrote, "I am very happy that our Lord has fulfilled one of my dreams—martyrdom. Martyrdom is not death; martyrdom is pride for yourself and the whole world. Martyrdom is victory."

Amr wrote, "If I come to you as a martyr, celebrate and do not cry. I wished for martyrdom and achieved it."

Amr and Adam had dreams. Both wished "to do a lot of things." They had wishes and convictions. Both wished that "people would wake up"; Adam directed others to "set your compass, and point it towards the occupation" (quoting Ibrahim Al-Nabulsi's will) and Amr imploring others to "realize that we are under a zionist occupation."

They understood the significance of the prisoners' struggle. Amr wrote he wishes for freedom for all prisoners, including his brother Ibrahim, abducted last year.

They honored the martyrs before them: Amr is wearing a shirt with martyr Omar Manaa on it, and Adam is pictured with him.

Both are sons of a refugee camp, dreaming of return to the homes from which their families were exiled. They knew that this generation—their generation—would be the ones to liberate the land and take their right to return. Amr knew, "freedom will be in their grasp" and his comrade Adam said, "Our generation will liberate Palestine."

It is our responsibility to remember the words of the martyrs Adam and Amr. And it is our responsibility to see to their wishes come true: liberation and return, within our lifetime, by our hands.