- 4 jan 2009
Mahmoud Ahmed Mohamed Adham 50'Abd a-Rahim Helmi al-'Abed al-Ashqar, 52Ahmed Ahmed Sami Abu Madin 54
28 apr 2012, 16:54 , Respect -
Maria 4 jan 2009
'Awani Sa'di Salman a-Dib, 54
Na'im Hussein Mustafa A'bbas, 58
'Eid 'Aiyadah Salem Abu Rabi', 59
28 apr 2012, 16:54 , Respect -
Maria 4 jan 2009
What the medics see, do, and are subjected to; uncensored
On 31st December, around 2 am, two emergency medical services personnel were targeted by an Israeli missile as they attempted to reach injured in the Jabaliya region, northern Gaza. The first died immediately, the second soon after of complications from his internal injuries.
Two days later, 2 more medics were injured in the area east of Gaza, again in the line of duty, again trying to reach the injured.
Under the Geneva Conventions, Israel is obliged to allow and ensure safe passage to medical personnel to the injured. Instead, Israel routinely targets them.
At the Jabaliya Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) station, the team there tells me of their injuries. Half, they say, of emergency medics and drivers in Gaza have been injured by Israel while trying to perform the duties.
One shows me a scar from a gunshot wound to his arm. Another tells of being twice injured: once, shot in the stomach, another time, also shot in the arm.
The bullet holes in their ambulances speak for themselves.
Internationals from the ISM (International Solidarity Movement) and the Free Gaza Movement have decided to join the EMT personnel in their work around Gaza.
I start in Jabaliya, in northern Gaza at the eastern border, where I meet an amiable team of professionals. After delivering a pregnant woman to hospital, our first serious call is to retrieve the bodies of two killed resistance fighters, hit by shells.
The sight of the one in our ambulance is ugly, his face has exploded.
The knowledge of his life and death is uglier: he was born into a life of occupation, and he has chosen to resist, as one would when being invaded.
The ugliest aspect lies in the knowledge that he was undoubtedly a father, a husband, a man who probably has a mixture of photos on his phone: beautiful women, cute children, cats, a fighter with a gun, pictures of his family, random lovely scenes of nature, and the slapstick video clips that seem to be common among those with high tech-cell phones.
He was a regular guy, of this I’m sure, thrust into an unbearable, deadly role. His silver lining is that at least he doesn’t have to live in hell on earth any longer.
The next call, at just after 4 am, is to retrieve one injured, one dead, at the American high school in Beit Lahia, the northwest of the Strip.
We have to navigate roads that are more than pot-holed, destroyed by time, lack of construction materials (the siege), and more recently, the F-16 missiles. Finding only the one injured man, we take him to hospital, returning after daybreak to find the corpse.
After sunrise, we return to the northwest, passing a dead cow on the side of the road. En route, near the bombed high school, the van gets a flat. We walk in from there, moving quickly as drones and F-16s still circle, second and third strikes are all too common. In the light, I see what had been a large structure, a quality high school a friend had studied at.
What’s left of the body has been found and brought out to the nearest clearing, the playground. [Later in the morning, I re-visit the site with a film crew, tell the story. I notice the sea beyond, hadn't seen it in the dim morning light. Notice the twisted wreckage of the playground, and the pieces of shrapnel littering the ground. As we film, 2 missiles blast in the vicinity. It's hard not to feel like prey in this open area, clearly visible]. I don’t immediately see the corpse unwrapped, but I suspect that he is not all there.
The dead, a 24 year old night watchman, had no warning of the at least 2 missiles which leveled the school and tore him apart.
The medics work to load the corpse, first having to replace the flat tire. Working frantically, still fearful of potential strikes, they crowd the ambulance, hoist the van, replace the flat. A missile hits 50 metres away.
Surely, undoubtedly, those warplanes above us know –from the markings of the ambulance, the clothes of the medics, the crystal clear photos their drones can take –that we are civilians and medics below.
Yet they fire.
They change the tire, load the body, and we’re off, screeching as much as the tired ambulance and pathetic roads will allow. It’s straight around the back of the hospital, to the mortuary, where men mourning the latest dead before ours are ushered out, ordered to make room for this new body.
In the cold room, the body is transferred to the fridge shelf, but while that happens the blanket comes undone. The patch of burned skin, in no way human, reveals itself to be a half-body, the head hanging loosely by what neck remains.
I see it, as I saw the dead man in the ambulance. And I write it, because everyone must see it, hear of it. The children of Gaza must see these images, or are these images, so we have no right to censorship from such gruesome deaths.
But I cry, too, at the disfigurement of the young corpse, and the knowledge that he is one of so many (over 470 now) killed in the last week.
The medics have seen ghastly things and urge me to keep it in, keep working. They must, and so I do.
We return to the centre, I leave them intending to return a day later, to spend my day reporting and writing. In the end I return to the ambulance station a half day later, as Israel ramps up its bloodletting.
http://fwd4.me/11Jx 28 apr 2012, 16:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
More children killed as war on Gaza continues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gEBO-6VRjs
The assault on Gaza is now into its tenth day. As the death and injury toll continues to rise hospitals are becoming increasingly overwhelmed. Israel however insists there is not a humanitarian crisis.
28 apr 2012, 16:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Fatheia Ayman Salim al-Dabbari, 4 months
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm67eXzNlPo
Fatheia of Rafah, Gaza, killed by IDF shelling in al-Shouka, near Rafah.
- 5 jan 2009
Shahd Muhammad Amin Heji, 2Muhammad Samir Amin Heji, 14Muhammad Amin Mustafa Heji, 36
28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Wiam Jamal Mahmoud al-Kafarneh, 2Farah Al-Helo, 2
Wiam of Beit Hanoun, Gaza, died of wounds sustained Jan. 4 in an IDF attack on Beit Hanoun.
Farah: Details of the Last Hours:
At approximately 5:30 am, Israeli aircraft attacked the house of 50-year-old Fuad al-Helo, in the neighborhood of al-Zeitoun, killing the man and a child from his family. The child was identified as two-year-old Farah Emad al-Helo. Farah is seen in the photo as she lies beside her uncle at the mortuary of Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza City.
http://fwd4.me/0j2i 28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Shahed Hijeh 2
Mohammed Hijeh 33
28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Muhammad Salam Awad al-Tarfawi, 4Nada Radwan Na'im Mardi, 5
Muhammad of Jabalya, Gaza, killed by the IDF near the al-Je'el gas station on al-Karama street in Jabalya.
Nada Radwan Abu Mardy (also Nada al-Marrdi): Details of the last hours:
Radwan Abu Mardy’s family endured three nights of fear and death They ended with a tragedy in the Atatra neighborhood in the Northern Gaza Strip, one of the worst hit areas during the Israeli barrage of destruction With a weak, trembling voice, 6-year-old Nada’s father tells the story of her last moments, before her life ended on January 5,2009
He extended his hand to her, in a desperate attempt to save her life as the ghostly hand of death extended towards them. She held on tight, and walked with quick steps full of fear. They ran into the unknown, surrounded by gunshots and hovering planes They ran without stopping. But they were forced to a halt by a gunshot.
As the father looked at his daughter in fear, he found that the shot had pierced her head, taking away her dreams With a bewildering smile, Nada passed away. She left behind much pain for a family that had hopes of a better life for the girl with the innocent smile.
http://fwd4.me/0j0f 28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Aya Usama Nayif al-Sersawi, 6Isma'il Haydar Isma'il 'Aleiwa, 6
Aya of al-Shejaya, near Gaza City, Gaza, killed by IDF shelling while in her home in al-Shejaya, near Gaza City.
28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Lana Haydar Isma'il 'Aleiwa, 9Muamen Haydar Isma'il 'Aleiwa, 12
28 apr 2012, 17:54 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Mu'atasem Haydar Isma'il 'Aleiwa, 13Amal Zaki 'Aref 'Aleiwa, 40
Killed with four of her children when a shell penetrated their fourth-floor apartment in a-Shaja'iyah neighborhood.
Palestinian mother, children shot dead
Medics at Shifa hospital told reporters that Israeli forces shot the mother and her children in the Chujaiya neighborhood in the Gaza city
The latest death brings to nine the number of the children killed on Monday attacks
As Israel troops and tanks enter the densely-populated Gaza city, the international society remains extremely concerned over the large number of civilians, killed or wounded in the costal area as a result of Israel’s heavy aerial bombardments and ground operations
Meanwhile, Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in cities around the world in protest at the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing onslaught of Gazans
More than 530 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,600 others are wounded in the Operation Cast Lead, launched on on December 27
- 5 jan 2009
Muamen Mahmoud Talal 'Allaw, 11Ibrahim Suliman Muhammad Barakeh, 11
28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Hanadi Bassem Kamel Khalifah, 12Nadiah Mesbah Salem Sa'ed, 12
28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ayat Yusef Muhammad a-Dufda', 12'Arafat Muhammad 'Arafat 'Abd a-Dayem, 12Islam Jaber 'Arafat 'Abd a-Dayem, 16
Islam died of his wounds 8 jan 2009 - 5 jan 2009
Nafez Jamal Sa'id 'Abd a-Dayem, 22
Sa'id Jamal Sa'id 'Abd a-Dayem, 28Maher Yunes Ramadan 'Abd a-Dayem, 32
28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Mahmoud Muhammad Khamis Abu Qamer, 14Ibrahim Mu'in al-'Abed Juha, 14
Name of Victim: Mahmoud Muhammad Abu-Qamr: Details of the last hours:
Every evening after Al-Maghrib prayer (dawn prayer), Om-Mahmoud used to go with her children to the house of her brother-in-law. January 5th was no exception; but on that specific day, Mahmoud insisted to wait until he performed Esha prayer (Evening prayer) first then follow them later. On his way after praying at Al-Sharqi mosque, an Israeli tank targeted him with a missile killing him instantly.
When heard the sound of the missile, Om-Mahmoud had a feeling that the target was her son Mahmoud. The mother hurried to search for her son, asked everyone in the streets, and finally went to check the lists of the dead and injured in hospitals. At Kamal Odwan hospital, the mother was told that two men and a child were transferred to Al-Shefa’a hospital in a critical state. The mother rushed to Al-Shefa’a hospital where she found her dear son in the morgue.
Magdy always accompanied his mother, regardless of where she went. Whenever anybody asked a favor of Magdy, he was always happy to help. Now, those who often went to Magdy, miss him greatly and long to see him again.
More Information:
Mahmoud was a second grade student at the preparatory school. He was a diligent student who always got 'Excellent' mark. He cared a lot about organizing his school notebooks. His mother says "although he was still too young, my dear son observed the five prayers at mosque. He had a special story with the Fajr prayer; he loved to pray it on time every day. As he was afraid that he might sleep and miss the prayer, he tied his hand with a rope, stretched his hand across the window and asked his friends to pull it on their way to the mosque…"
To know more about Mahmoud's obedience to his parents, Om-Mahmoud narrated how her little child used to kiss her hand before leaving home and upon coming back. His permanent request was to attain his mother satisfaction. If there was any misunderstanding between him and his mother, Mahmoud would never leave home before she forgave him.
“My dear three sons were so close to each other; they loved to share beds and sleep together. When the father asked them to stop playing and go to bed, they would comply at once with what their dad said. Even when we bought them new clothes or food, they always loved to share with each other"
His Dreams:
Mahmoud planned to finish his secondary school and enroll in a vocational school so as he could provide for his family and help his father. Yet, the mother wished him to continue his study and get diploma in any field, therefore he may be better than his father who worked under very tough conditions as a labor.
As his mother described him, "Mahmoud was obedient and polite. To him it was all about faith and ethics. He was the one who calmed down the whole family at the time of the Israeli strikes. He always asked us to be patient...
http://fwd4.me/0j20 28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Naji Nidal 'Abd a-Salam al-Hamlawi, 15
Khalil Muhammad Khalil Hiles, 15
Naji of Bureij refugee camp, Gaza, killed by IDF shelling in the camp's central market.
28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ramadan Muhammad 'Ali Filfel, 15
Al-Said Jawad Muhammad al-Siksik, 16
Al-Said of Jabalya, Gaza, killed by IDF shelling in the al-Twam area of Jabalya.
28 apr 2012, 17:55 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ibrahim Rohi Muhammad 'Aqel, 16
Nader Bassam Ibrahim Kadurah, 16
Ibrahim of Bureij refugee camp, killed by IDF shelling in the camp's central market.
28 apr 2012, 17:56 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ahmad Samih Ahmad al-Kafarneh, 17Ahmed Fathi Mattar Hrazen 18
Mahmoud Mu'in Ishaq a-Rifi, 18
28 apr 2012, 17:56 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Zakaria 'Abd a-Nasser Ibrahim a-Kiyali, 19
Ahmad Fathi Muhammad Matar, 19
'Alaa Ibrahim Salameh Matar, 23
28 apr 2012, 17:56 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ahmad Jihad Muhammad Abu Skheleh, 20
Ashraf 'Abd al-Hakim Salem al-Asi, 20Muhammad Akram Muhammad Abu Harbid, 20
28 apr 2012, 17:56 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Muhammad Muhammad Nabih al-Ghazali, 20
Ahmad Fathi Mustafa a-Nazli, 20
Ahmad Hassan 'Abd al-Karim Abu Zur, 21
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Wafa Nabil 'Ali Abu Jarad, 21Akram Muhammad Isma'il Abu Jarad, 21Hussein Khalil Ibrahim Jarad, 22
Wafa's family
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Mahmoud Sudqi Hamdan Kahil, 21
Ahmad Sudqi Hamdan Kahil, 25Fadwah Khalil Muhammad Kahil, 52
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Ahmad Mahmoud Hussein a-Shaf'I, 21
Muhammad Nahed Muhammad 'Abd Rabo, 22
Seif al-Islam Ahmad Muhammad 'Adwan, 22
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Hussein Mahmoud Abdul-Malik al-Sultan 23Iyad 'Adli Ramadan a-Najar, 24
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Bassem Mustafa 'Abdallah al-Habil, 26
'Ula Ma'sud Khlil 'Arafat, 27Ayman Ahmad 'Amer al-Kurd, 28
28 apr 2012, 18:22 , Respect -
Maria 5 jan 2009
Muhammad Samir 'Abd a-Latif Salem, 29Osamah Jihad 'Ali Abu Jbarah, 22Basel Jihad 'Ali Abu Jbarah, 30Jihad 'Ali Ahmad Abu Jbarah, 54