3 apr 2012
Barhoum: ICC's Decision is a New License to Kill More Palestinians
Hague Court's rejection to criminalize the Zionist occupation's crimes in Gaza, claiming that Palestine is not a state, is a green light for the occupation to commit more crimes and a new license to kill more Palestinians, Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas’s spokesman, stated.
All the UN and international investigation reports confirmed that occupation committed war crimes in Gaza through mass murder, killing children, bombing mosques and houses over their inhabitants, and the murder and maiming of civilians; men, women and children, Barhoum said in a statement on Wednesday on his page on "Facebook".
He considered the court's claim that Palestine is not classified as a state in the United Nations organizations unacceptable "because that UNESCO, the United Nations organization, accepted Palestine as a state in October 2011.
So under the United Nations regulations and practices, Palestine must be treated as a state even in the International Criminal Court.
Barhoum asked the ICC to reconsider its decision and not yield to American and Zionist pressure.
He also asked the PA to deal with all the concerned parties and the international forums to prosecute the Zionist occupation crimes and to protect and recover the Palestinians rights and to de-legitimize the occupation ending all forms of negotiations with it.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected, on Tuesday, the Palestinian Authority's call filed against the Zionist occupation for committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip in late 2008 and early 2009, claiming that Palestine Authority is only an observer in the UN and not a state.
For its part, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expressed, in a statement on Wednesday, its disappointment at the ICC's decision saying that it is a "black day for international justice" adding that the ICC Prosecutor failed in dealing with this issue.
The center stressed that the Prosecutor's decision, without referring the matter to the Pre-Trial Chamber, raised doubts about the ICC Prosecutor who was not acting in the interest of justice, but on political considerations.
The center also called the UN organizations especially the General Assembly to work consistently for justice interests and to complete the so-called "Goldstone process" by referring the matter to the Security Council to refer the situation in "Israel" and Palestine to the International Criminal Court.
All the UN and international investigation reports confirmed that occupation committed war crimes in Gaza through mass murder, killing children, bombing mosques and houses over their inhabitants, and the murder and maiming of civilians; men, women and children, Barhoum said in a statement on Wednesday on his page on "Facebook".
He considered the court's claim that Palestine is not classified as a state in the United Nations organizations unacceptable "because that UNESCO, the United Nations organization, accepted Palestine as a state in October 2011.
So under the United Nations regulations and practices, Palestine must be treated as a state even in the International Criminal Court.
Barhoum asked the ICC to reconsider its decision and not yield to American and Zionist pressure.
He also asked the PA to deal with all the concerned parties and the international forums to prosecute the Zionist occupation crimes and to protect and recover the Palestinians rights and to de-legitimize the occupation ending all forms of negotiations with it.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected, on Tuesday, the Palestinian Authority's call filed against the Zionist occupation for committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip in late 2008 and early 2009, claiming that Palestine Authority is only an observer in the UN and not a state.
For its part, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expressed, in a statement on Wednesday, its disappointment at the ICC's decision saying that it is a "black day for international justice" adding that the ICC Prosecutor failed in dealing with this issue.
The center stressed that the Prosecutor's decision, without referring the matter to the Pre-Trial Chamber, raised doubts about the ICC Prosecutor who was not acting in the interest of justice, but on political considerations.
The center also called the UN organizations especially the General Assembly to work consistently for justice interests and to complete the so-called "Goldstone process" by referring the matter to the Security Council to refer the situation in "Israel" and Palestine to the International Criminal Court.
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"Fears Over Justice for Gaza Victims"
A “dangerous” statement by the office of International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor that it cannot consider allegations of crimes committed during the 2008-9 Gaza conflict means Palestinian and Israeli victims seem likely to be denied justice, Amnesty International said. The Office of the Prosecutor today said that it cannot consider allegations of crimes committed during the conflict unless the relevant UN bodies or ICC states parties determine that the Palestinian Authority is a state. "This dangerous decision opens the ICC to accusations of political bias and is inconsistent with the independence of the ICC. It also breaches the Rome Statute which clearly states that such matters should be considered by the institution’s judges,” said Marek Marczyński, Head of Amnesty International’s International Justice campaign. |
"For the past three years, the prosecutor has been considering the question of whether the Palestinian Authority is a "state" that comes under the jurisdiction of the ICC and whether the ICC can investigate crimes committed during the 2008-9 conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.”
“Now, despite Amnesty International’s calls and a very clear requirement in the ICC’s statute that the judges should decide on such matters, the Prosecutor has erroneously dodged the question, passing it to other political bodies.”
“Amnesty International once again calls on the Prosecutor to follow the procedures established by the Rome Statute by passing the matter to the judges, rather than frustrating efforts to bring justice to Palestinian and Israeli victims of the Gaza conflict.”
“Now, despite Amnesty International’s calls and a very clear requirement in the ICC’s statute that the judges should decide on such matters, the Prosecutor has erroneously dodged the question, passing it to other political bodies.”
“Amnesty International once again calls on the Prosecutor to follow the procedures established by the Rome Statute by passing the matter to the judges, rather than frustrating efforts to bring justice to Palestinian and Israeli victims of the Gaza conflict.”
22 jan 2012
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Hanin Kamal Abu Jalala, 16
Palestinian medical sources reported Sunday that Hanin Kamal Abu Jalala, 16, died of wounds suffered during the Israeli offensive on Gaza three years ago. The child was severely wounded by phosphorous shells fired by the Israeli army into civilian areas in Gaza. Abu Jalala lived with her family in Al-Boreij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. Her injury also resulted in lung fibrosis. She was hospitalized at the Hadassah Israeli hospital, and fell into coma nearly twelve days ago after undergoing surgery. Her father, Kamal Abu Jalala, told the Safa News Agency that the administration at the Hadassah hospital is responsible for his daughter’s health, and added that the |
administration is refusing to grant him a photocopy of her medical file.
Her body will be moved from Hadassah to the Al Maqassed Islamic Hospital in East Jerusalem, before she is moved back to the Gaza Strip.
During the three-week war on Gaza, starting December 27, 2008, Israeli troops bombarded civilian areas and used phosphorous shells in direct violation of International law.
1419 Palestinians were killed during the war, and thousands were injured; dozens died of their wounds.
The majority of the casualties were civilians, including infants, children, women and elderly, medics and journalists.
The army also bombarded infrastructure, medical facilities, educational facilities, UNRWA facilities and civilian homes and structures.
Is 17-year-old girl Cast Lead’s latest victim?
Medicines remain on Haneen’s bedstand but only a studio portrait is left in Haneen’s place.
Text messages on a cell phone, some medicine and respiration equipment were all that remained after Haneen Abu Jalala, a 17-year-old girl from al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza, died last month at an Israeli hospital.
“Dad, please save me from this torture.”
“Dad, you are the greatest dad on earth.”
These were some of the texts that Haneen typed before she perished from respiratory complications she had sustained following Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s war on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. Her family suspects that exposure to white phosphorous is the cause of her ailments and eventual death.
Haneen died on 22 January at Hadassah Medical Center in Israel after she had entered a coma. Haneen had to leave school three years ago after she began to have breathing difficulties and her entire body turned blue.
“No more smiles”
The Abu Jalala family in Haneen’s room
Kamal Abu Jalala, Haneen’s father, and some of his eleven children were gathered along with various relatives inside Haneen’s now empty room in the family’s home.
“No more smiles, no more sounds, no more chatting and no more Haneen in Haneen’s room now,” said Umm Hamza, Haneen’s sister, her eyes welling with tears.
“Despite her severe health problems that complicated her life, she was filled with optimism and energy. She used to take me as her own twin sister, as she used to tell me about her ambitions, dreams and determination to live, saying she was very hopeful that she would return back to school to pursue her education,” her sister added.
Another of Haneen’s sisters, Ahlam, said, “May God take revenge on those who caused the death of my poor sister Haneen.”
“In spite of her sickness and suffering, Haneen used to fill our home with joy through her broad smile, her utter optimism and cheerfulness,” Ahlam added.
“I recall one day I felt sick, Haneen kept crying and prayed for me to recover to the extent that she helped me type some of my research papers [for a university degree] on the computer. Not because she is my sister, she was really like an angel and, God willing, she will go to paradise peacefully as a martyr,” she said.
Ahmad, Haneen’s twenty-year-old brother, said, “I am a construction worker and earn little, but every day when I returned back from my work, I used to bring her some cookies, potato chips and chocolate. All I wanted was to let her feel comfortable. Haneen was really a very tender girl.”
Haneen’s mother, Umm al-Abed, has been especially distraught following her daughter’s death and has found it hard to speak to visitors.
“Since Haneen’s death, Umm al-Abed has been continuously crying and unable to eat or drink properly,” Kamal said.
Lengthy treatment
A last text message from Haneen to her father
Kamal talked of the lengthy treatment his daughter underwent, shedding tears he spoke.
“When Haneen began to have respiratory problems a few weeks after the Israeli war on Gaza came to an end in January 2009, I realized that my daughter needed medication, so I decided first and foremost to see local doctors,” Kamal recalled.
“The local doctors diagnosed her with a respiratory infection and they prescribed some medicines along with respiratory treatment sessions inside the hospital. As my daughter’s case deteriorated, I moved her to our home, so that we took care of her instead.”
Kamal suspects that white phosphorous, fired by the Israeli military at the rooftop of his house, ultimately caused Haneen’s death.
Holding a small picture of his deceased daughter, he said, “I recall well that one day during the war, Israeli occupation forces shelled the area with weapons that we hadn’t seen before. On the rooftop of my house, myself and the children, including Haneen, saw some flashing bodies. Suddenly smoke filled the place and Haneen began to cough and feel suffocated. At a nearby hospital, she was treated and returned back home.”
Haneen went on to receive treatment in Egypt and Israel.
A month in Egypt
In Egypt, Haneen received medical care for one month at the Nasser Institute in Cairo. Kamal, who accompanied his ailing daughter, was told by the hospital that Haneen was suffering from some sort of respiratory infection and that with the help of certain treatment, she would begin to recover.
“At the hospital, I tried relentlessly to find exactly what was the cause of my daughter’s health condition, but in vain. The only thing doctors told me was that Haneen was suffering from some respiratory infection, no more. We returned back to Gaza and her case deteriorated again.”
After contacting the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Kamal, who was jailed for two and a half years by Israel in the 1980s, managed to transfer his daughter to an Israeli hospital.
Strange symptoms
“The ten-minute-long operation took exactly three hours and 35 minutes instead … Afterwards, she was placed at the intensive care unit, where new strange symptoms appeared on her. She was getting swelling, while I was not able to do anything for her.”
Kamal added that as his daughter’s case worsened and her kidney stopped functioning, he asked doctors at the hospital about what exactly his daughter was suffering from.
“I wanted to learn what was going on but doctors at the hospital revealed nothing to me, saying that it was not dangerous and that Haneen would recover soon. They also took a second sample from her lung and sent it to the US for testing, they told me. When I asked about the test’s result, they told me nothing until Haneen passed away on her hospital bed,” Kamal said angrily.
The Abu Jalala family have no answers for what happened to their daughter, just a few text messages reminding them of the young life that ended too soon.
Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.
All images by Shadi Alqarra.
Her body will be moved from Hadassah to the Al Maqassed Islamic Hospital in East Jerusalem, before she is moved back to the Gaza Strip.
During the three-week war on Gaza, starting December 27, 2008, Israeli troops bombarded civilian areas and used phosphorous shells in direct violation of International law.
1419 Palestinians were killed during the war, and thousands were injured; dozens died of their wounds.
The majority of the casualties were civilians, including infants, children, women and elderly, medics and journalists.
The army also bombarded infrastructure, medical facilities, educational facilities, UNRWA facilities and civilian homes and structures.
Is 17-year-old girl Cast Lead’s latest victim?
Medicines remain on Haneen’s bedstand but only a studio portrait is left in Haneen’s place.
Text messages on a cell phone, some medicine and respiration equipment were all that remained after Haneen Abu Jalala, a 17-year-old girl from al-Bureij refugee camp in Gaza, died last month at an Israeli hospital.
“Dad, please save me from this torture.”
“Dad, you are the greatest dad on earth.”
These were some of the texts that Haneen typed before she perished from respiratory complications she had sustained following Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s war on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. Her family suspects that exposure to white phosphorous is the cause of her ailments and eventual death.
Haneen died on 22 January at Hadassah Medical Center in Israel after she had entered a coma. Haneen had to leave school three years ago after she began to have breathing difficulties and her entire body turned blue.
“No more smiles”
The Abu Jalala family in Haneen’s room
Kamal Abu Jalala, Haneen’s father, and some of his eleven children were gathered along with various relatives inside Haneen’s now empty room in the family’s home.
“No more smiles, no more sounds, no more chatting and no more Haneen in Haneen’s room now,” said Umm Hamza, Haneen’s sister, her eyes welling with tears.
“Despite her severe health problems that complicated her life, she was filled with optimism and energy. She used to take me as her own twin sister, as she used to tell me about her ambitions, dreams and determination to live, saying she was very hopeful that she would return back to school to pursue her education,” her sister added.
Another of Haneen’s sisters, Ahlam, said, “May God take revenge on those who caused the death of my poor sister Haneen.”
“In spite of her sickness and suffering, Haneen used to fill our home with joy through her broad smile, her utter optimism and cheerfulness,” Ahlam added.
“I recall one day I felt sick, Haneen kept crying and prayed for me to recover to the extent that she helped me type some of my research papers [for a university degree] on the computer. Not because she is my sister, she was really like an angel and, God willing, she will go to paradise peacefully as a martyr,” she said.
Ahmad, Haneen’s twenty-year-old brother, said, “I am a construction worker and earn little, but every day when I returned back from my work, I used to bring her some cookies, potato chips and chocolate. All I wanted was to let her feel comfortable. Haneen was really a very tender girl.”
Haneen’s mother, Umm al-Abed, has been especially distraught following her daughter’s death and has found it hard to speak to visitors.
“Since Haneen’s death, Umm al-Abed has been continuously crying and unable to eat or drink properly,” Kamal said.
Lengthy treatment
A last text message from Haneen to her father
Kamal talked of the lengthy treatment his daughter underwent, shedding tears he spoke.
“When Haneen began to have respiratory problems a few weeks after the Israeli war on Gaza came to an end in January 2009, I realized that my daughter needed medication, so I decided first and foremost to see local doctors,” Kamal recalled.
“The local doctors diagnosed her with a respiratory infection and they prescribed some medicines along with respiratory treatment sessions inside the hospital. As my daughter’s case deteriorated, I moved her to our home, so that we took care of her instead.”
Kamal suspects that white phosphorous, fired by the Israeli military at the rooftop of his house, ultimately caused Haneen’s death.
Holding a small picture of his deceased daughter, he said, “I recall well that one day during the war, Israeli occupation forces shelled the area with weapons that we hadn’t seen before. On the rooftop of my house, myself and the children, including Haneen, saw some flashing bodies. Suddenly smoke filled the place and Haneen began to cough and feel suffocated. At a nearby hospital, she was treated and returned back home.”
Haneen went on to receive treatment in Egypt and Israel.
A month in Egypt
In Egypt, Haneen received medical care for one month at the Nasser Institute in Cairo. Kamal, who accompanied his ailing daughter, was told by the hospital that Haneen was suffering from some sort of respiratory infection and that with the help of certain treatment, she would begin to recover.
“At the hospital, I tried relentlessly to find exactly what was the cause of my daughter’s health condition, but in vain. The only thing doctors told me was that Haneen was suffering from some respiratory infection, no more. We returned back to Gaza and her case deteriorated again.”
After contacting the Palestinian Authority’s health ministry in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Kamal, who was jailed for two and a half years by Israel in the 1980s, managed to transfer his daughter to an Israeli hospital.
Strange symptoms
“The ten-minute-long operation took exactly three hours and 35 minutes instead … Afterwards, she was placed at the intensive care unit, where new strange symptoms appeared on her. She was getting swelling, while I was not able to do anything for her.”
Kamal added that as his daughter’s case worsened and her kidney stopped functioning, he asked doctors at the hospital about what exactly his daughter was suffering from.
“I wanted to learn what was going on but doctors at the hospital revealed nothing to me, saying that it was not dangerous and that Haneen would recover soon. They also took a second sample from her lung and sent it to the US for testing, they told me. When I asked about the test’s result, they told me nothing until Haneen passed away on her hospital bed,” Kamal said angrily.
The Abu Jalala family have no answers for what happened to their daughter, just a few text messages reminding them of the young life that ended too soon.
Rami Almeghari is a journalist and university lecturer based in the Gaza Strip.
All images by Shadi Alqarra.
18 jan 2012
The day before his death, Maher Rajailah asked if his father could write a will for him. But he didn't actually believe he was going to die, not at 23.
"We were joking about it," his mother says, recalling the supposed ceasefire Israel had announced a day earlier on Jan. 17, 2009. Families were returning to their lands because they thought it was safe.
Maher's father Abdel Azim went to his fields, east of Khan Younis, to keep an eye on his sons. "It was calm so I felt comfortable and stayed there," he told the Palestinian Center of Human Rights.
"Suddenly one of the jeeps on the border stopped and bullet after bullet was fired."
Maher was shot in his arm and chest and taken to hospital under heavy gunfire. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
"I wish that they took all the pieces of our lands and Maher would still be alive," says Abdel Azim.
"My wife suffered from two strokes since he was killed. Since the incident I suffer from heart problems. We cannot forget him and our suffering is continuous. We remember him when we see his clothes, his room, and everything that he used around the house."
"My children also still experience a lot of fear. Dowlat sometimes puts her hands over her ears when she hears planes and says 'help me, father.' She is 24 years old and afraid in the dark."
The family owns orange and olive groves close to the border, but Israel has repeatedly bulldozed the land and fires at farmers in the area.
"Before the offensive we used to go to our land regularly, stay up late at night, and have barbeques there," says Abdel Azim.
"If we try to access it they would fire at us. Those fields were cultivated with 50 year old olive trees.”
On Wednesday, Israeli forces killed a man and a teenager in Beit Hanoun near Gaza's northern border with Israel. Medics said they were laying down bird traps in the area.
Abdel Azim doesn't see any signs of improvement in the future. "I worry about other wars that might come and don’t feel safe."
As for his hopes, he says: "I hope that I will be able to live freely and safely, that the occupation will come to an end, and that we can travel freely. That’s all that we need."
PCHR submitted a complaint to Israeli authorities on behalf of the Abu Rujailah family on Nov. 8, 2009 but has yet to receive a response.
The Gaza-based rights organization has filed complaints on behalf of 1,046 victims of Israel's Operation Cast Lead offensive.
It has only received substantive responses to four cases.
"We were joking about it," his mother says, recalling the supposed ceasefire Israel had announced a day earlier on Jan. 17, 2009. Families were returning to their lands because they thought it was safe.
Maher's father Abdel Azim went to his fields, east of Khan Younis, to keep an eye on his sons. "It was calm so I felt comfortable and stayed there," he told the Palestinian Center of Human Rights.
"Suddenly one of the jeeps on the border stopped and bullet after bullet was fired."
Maher was shot in his arm and chest and taken to hospital under heavy gunfire. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
"I wish that they took all the pieces of our lands and Maher would still be alive," says Abdel Azim.
"My wife suffered from two strokes since he was killed. Since the incident I suffer from heart problems. We cannot forget him and our suffering is continuous. We remember him when we see his clothes, his room, and everything that he used around the house."
"My children also still experience a lot of fear. Dowlat sometimes puts her hands over her ears when she hears planes and says 'help me, father.' She is 24 years old and afraid in the dark."
The family owns orange and olive groves close to the border, but Israel has repeatedly bulldozed the land and fires at farmers in the area.
"Before the offensive we used to go to our land regularly, stay up late at night, and have barbeques there," says Abdel Azim.
"If we try to access it they would fire at us. Those fields were cultivated with 50 year old olive trees.”
On Wednesday, Israeli forces killed a man and a teenager in Beit Hanoun near Gaza's northern border with Israel. Medics said they were laying down bird traps in the area.
Abdel Azim doesn't see any signs of improvement in the future. "I worry about other wars that might come and don’t feel safe."
As for his hopes, he says: "I hope that I will be able to live freely and safely, that the occupation will come to an end, and that we can travel freely. That’s all that we need."
PCHR submitted a complaint to Israeli authorities on behalf of the Abu Rujailah family on Nov. 8, 2009 but has yet to receive a response.
The Gaza-based rights organization has filed complaints on behalf of 1,046 victims of Israel's Operation Cast Lead offensive.
It has only received substantive responses to four cases.
17 jan 2012
The Palestine Return Center (PRC) in Britain is organizing a weeklong event under the name of “Remember Palestine” on the third anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza Strip 2008-2009.
Majed Al-Zeer, the PRC director, said in a press release that a Norwegian doctor who helped treat the wounded in the Israeli war on Gaza would speak about his experience there in a seminar at the British parliament.
He said that similar events would follow in Manchester, Edinburgh and other cities in the UK in cooperation with renowned universities.
Zeer said that the event is annually observed to commemorate the Israeli savage war on Gaza, adding that a photo exhibition would be organized on the sidelines of the event.
Majed Al-Zeer, the PRC director, said in a press release that a Norwegian doctor who helped treat the wounded in the Israeli war on Gaza would speak about his experience there in a seminar at the British parliament.
He said that similar events would follow in Manchester, Edinburgh and other cities in the UK in cooperation with renowned universities.
Zeer said that the event is annually observed to commemorate the Israeli savage war on Gaza, adding that a photo exhibition would be organized on the sidelines of the event.
16 jan 2012
“Can I go to a court to restore my sons? No” says Mohammed. “What is the point in bringing the soldiers who killed my sons to justice when there will simply be more and more after them? When others will lose their sons as well? Soldiers commit these crimes because they know they have immunity.”
On 16 January 2009, Israeli forces positioned in the al Fukhari area, south east of Khan Younis, opened fire on the vehicle of Mohammed Shurrab and his two sons Kassab, twenty-eight, and Ibrahim, eighteen, as they were travelling back to their home during the Israeli-declared ceasefire period.
On 16 January 2009, Israeli forces positioned in the al Fukhari area, south east of Khan Younis, opened fire on the vehicle of Mohammed Shurrab and his two sons Kassab, twenty-eight, and Ibrahim, eighteen, as they were travelling back to their home during the Israeli-declared ceasefire period.
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Mohammed was injured and crashed the car, his two sons were subsequently shot as they left the car. Israeli soldiers refused to allow medical access to the area, and Kassab and Ibrahim bled to death on the scene over a number of hours. There were no military operations in the area at the time.
Mohammed is adamant that he hopes that time will come sooner rather than later, “everyday I hope to join my sons. The only question is how I do so. I am a religious man and believe in God, taking my own life would be against my beliefs, but I believe it’s better for me to join my sons. I am waiting to die.” His farm, which is on the edge of the Israeli imposed buffer zone along the Gaza – Israeli border, is a hideout from the sights, sounds and issues that bring memories of his sons back to him. “I left my wife and my daughters to come here and live in peace. My wife is very sick. If she is reminded of the incident she will start to scream like she is not human, she cannot breath, she sometimes losses consciousness. I cannot bear to be around her when she is like that.” Despite his best efforts to escape, however, Mohammed is reminded by the smallest detail. “This time of year is the hardest. Everything reminds me of that day. The crisp air, the crops that grow, the dark; everything about this time of year takes me back to the incident.” Much like the parents of many others who lost their lives during the Israeli onslaught, Mohammed finds it especially painful to be around those who are around the same age as his sons. “I was at the wedding of my young cousin recently. He is the same age as Ibrahim would have been if he was still alive. I couldn’t stop thinking of all the things that he could have done with his life if it wasn’t taken from him; education, marriage, children, now he can do none of this.” Muhammad has suffered both mentally and physically as a result of stress and physical injuries incurred due to the shooting. Shuffling slowly and carefully around his farm house home, his physical symptoms are obvious. “I had severe damage to my neural system as a result of the attack,” says Mohammed, “my balance is now destroyed.” Lifting his top to show the long scar running down his back where he had surgery to |
repair his injuries Muhammad says his ability to fight infection and illness has deteriorated since the attack.
The stress he feels as a result of his experience has left him unable to sleep and he is forced to take sleeping pills to steal a brief four to five hours of sleep every night before waking very early in the morning.
Soon, Mohammed’s remaining sons and daughters will be fully educated and independent. Mohammed says when that time comes his work is done and there is nothing left keeping him from the afterlife. “The moment my children say we need for nothing, that’s it, I have done everything I am responsible for, I can go,” says Mohammed.
“The good times have gone, they will not be back. I hope for nothing”. When asked what his greatest fear for the future is, Mohammed replies; “my fear is a future.”
Regarding the pursuit of justice within Israeli courts Mohammed is scornful. “Absolutely not; the soldier who killed my sons did not act in a vacuum. He had permission from his superiors. What is more their crimes are ongoing. Stories like mine are not isolated incidences.” Any redress in Israeli courts, for Mohammed, were it forthcoming, would be irrelevant in any case.
“Can I go to a court to restore my sons? No” says Mohammed. “What is the point in bringing the soldiers who killed my sons to justice when there will simply be more and more after them? When others will lose their sons as well? Soldiers commit these crimes because they know they have immunity.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Shurrab family on 19 August 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
The stress he feels as a result of his experience has left him unable to sleep and he is forced to take sleeping pills to steal a brief four to five hours of sleep every night before waking very early in the morning.
Soon, Mohammed’s remaining sons and daughters will be fully educated and independent. Mohammed says when that time comes his work is done and there is nothing left keeping him from the afterlife. “The moment my children say we need for nothing, that’s it, I have done everything I am responsible for, I can go,” says Mohammed.
“The good times have gone, they will not be back. I hope for nothing”. When asked what his greatest fear for the future is, Mohammed replies; “my fear is a future.”
Regarding the pursuit of justice within Israeli courts Mohammed is scornful. “Absolutely not; the soldier who killed my sons did not act in a vacuum. He had permission from his superiors. What is more their crimes are ongoing. Stories like mine are not isolated incidences.” Any redress in Israeli courts, for Mohammed, were it forthcoming, would be irrelevant in any case.
“Can I go to a court to restore my sons? No” says Mohammed. “What is the point in bringing the soldiers who killed my sons to justice when there will simply be more and more after them? When others will lose their sons as well? Soldiers commit these crimes because they know they have immunity.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Shurrab family on 19 August 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
15 jan 2012
Majda al-Nadeem with her sons Mohannad, Firas, and Bashar
“Naser used to help the children with their school work, especially English and mathematics. Now that is my duty. Nothing can compensate me for the loss of my husband. He was always very tender, understanding and calm.”
On 15 January 2009, shortly after 7:00, the Israeli army fired a tank shell and live ammunition at Naser al-Nadeem and his two sons,
Bashar (17) and Firas (15), who were fleeing their home in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City. The two boys sustained moderate injuries while their father was severely injured. After 9 months of intensive medical treatment in Egypt and Gaza, Naser al-Nadeem eventually succumbed to his wounds. He was 44.
“Naser used to help the children with their school work, especially English and mathematics. Now that is my duty. Nothing can compensate me for the loss of my husband. He was always very tender, understanding and calm.”
On 15 January 2009, shortly after 7:00, the Israeli army fired a tank shell and live ammunition at Naser al-Nadeem and his two sons,
Bashar (17) and Firas (15), who were fleeing their home in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City. The two boys sustained moderate injuries while their father was severely injured. After 9 months of intensive medical treatment in Egypt and Gaza, Naser al-Nadeem eventually succumbed to his wounds. He was 44.
Naser’s wife, Majda al-Nadeem (54), is now a single parent of three sons,
Mohanned (nineteen), Bashar (17), Firas (15), and two daughters, Dima (14) and Tala (9).
“What keeps me going are my children, my children only. I am originally from Damascus and met their father when he was studying there. We married in 1990 and I moved to Gaza with him. I always think to return to Damascus to go and live with my family, but I know that it is better for my children to be here in Gaza. This is their home. I am doing whatever I can to protect them,” says Majda as she smiles at her sons.
All the responsibilities of the household are now on Majda’s shoulders, both with respect to caring for the children and financially. “Naser used to help the children with their school work, especially English and mathematics. Now that is my duty. Nothing can compensate me for the loss of my husband. He was always very tender, understanding and calm.”
Majda explains how she struggles to provide for the most basic needs since Naser died. “My husband used to have an engineering company with a partner and we used to have a good life. Now everything has changed. I am always thinking of how I can provide for my children; how will I bring food, pay for school, electricity, water, everything?
Mohanned (nineteen), Bashar (17), Firas (15), and two daughters, Dima (14) and Tala (9).
“What keeps me going are my children, my children only. I am originally from Damascus and met their father when he was studying there. We married in 1990 and I moved to Gaza with him. I always think to return to Damascus to go and live with my family, but I know that it is better for my children to be here in Gaza. This is their home. I am doing whatever I can to protect them,” says Majda as she smiles at her sons.
All the responsibilities of the household are now on Majda’s shoulders, both with respect to caring for the children and financially. “Naser used to help the children with their school work, especially English and mathematics. Now that is my duty. Nothing can compensate me for the loss of my husband. He was always very tender, understanding and calm.”
Majda explains how she struggles to provide for the most basic needs since Naser died. “My husband used to have an engineering company with a partner and we used to have a good life. Now everything has changed. I am always thinking of how I can provide for my children; how will I bring food, pay for school, electricity, water, everything?
Then 13 year old Firas
I have a lot of pressure on me and it affects me psychologically. We received some payments from the Palestinian Engineers Union and charity organizations but it is not enough or infinite. My family in Syria also tries to help us out financially. They sent us money to repair our house after the war.
The bathroom, kitchen, and sewerage were destroyed and there were smoke marks everywhere. Over the past three years our financial situation has gotten worse. A few days ago our electricity was cut off because we cannot pay for the bill.”
The children have difficulties in comprehending the changed financial situation. Majda says: “they want to have what the other children have, but I cannot provide it. They also had to leave their [private] school and change to a public school. It has been very difficult for them to adapt to these changes. They are not convinced that I cannot provide them with everything they want.”
The physical injuries Bashar and Firas sustained in the attack still mark their daily lives. Firas’ right knee was shattered by a bullet. His right leg is shorter as a result and does not bend. Majda explains:
“last year doctors placed platinum inside his knee. Now Firas has to wait until he is an adult. Then doctors will check what another surgery can do. But they also said it will never become the way it used to be.” Firas says: “I used to play karate with Bashar but I can’t do that anymore. I can’t really run either. Now I play ping pong.”
Bashar had shrapnel wounds in his left leg and right arm, and back. His leg is deformed and sometimes he has pain caused by infections and muscle damage. “Bashar is a very sporting boy. He used to do karate but he changed to gymnastics because of his injuries. Despite his injury, he insists on continuing his sports activities,” says his mother.
I have a lot of pressure on me and it affects me psychologically. We received some payments from the Palestinian Engineers Union and charity organizations but it is not enough or infinite. My family in Syria also tries to help us out financially. They sent us money to repair our house after the war.
The bathroom, kitchen, and sewerage were destroyed and there were smoke marks everywhere. Over the past three years our financial situation has gotten worse. A few days ago our electricity was cut off because we cannot pay for the bill.”
The children have difficulties in comprehending the changed financial situation. Majda says: “they want to have what the other children have, but I cannot provide it. They also had to leave their [private] school and change to a public school. It has been very difficult for them to adapt to these changes. They are not convinced that I cannot provide them with everything they want.”
The physical injuries Bashar and Firas sustained in the attack still mark their daily lives. Firas’ right knee was shattered by a bullet. His right leg is shorter as a result and does not bend. Majda explains:
“last year doctors placed platinum inside his knee. Now Firas has to wait until he is an adult. Then doctors will check what another surgery can do. But they also said it will never become the way it used to be.” Firas says: “I used to play karate with Bashar but I can’t do that anymore. I can’t really run either. Now I play ping pong.”
Bashar had shrapnel wounds in his left leg and right arm, and back. His leg is deformed and sometimes he has pain caused by infections and muscle damage. “Bashar is a very sporting boy. He used to do karate but he changed to gymnastics because of his injuries. Despite his injury, he insists on continuing his sports activities,” says his mother.
Bashar then 15, injury by large bullet from tank
Because of their injuries Bashar and Firas were not able to go back to school until the following semester. Majda called the Ministry of Education and told them that they had to provide the boys with home schooling; “teachers came to teach mathematics, Arabic and English at home, and the boys managed to end their school year with success.”
Despite their optimistic and brave outlook on life, Majda and her children carry with them the psychological scars of the offensive. “The war did change my children. It was a very difficult experience, even for us as adults,” she says. “When we hear explosions we feel fear and remember the war and the attack. If I am afraid, then how must my children be feeling?
In the year after his father was killed, Firas would wake up at night and scream ‘I want my father’. Now he is older and understands that his father will never come back. The school performances of Bashar and Firas have been affected too. It is getting better, but nothing is as it was before the war. Firas is also held back by his medical treatment.”
“We are in need of psychological support,” says Majda. “But the people working in this field only visited us for their own interests; taking photos and videos, for the benefit of their organization only.” Bashar adds: “once, a psychological worker came to talk with me but I couldn’t stay with her.
She was the one who needed help. I told her that and then left the room.” Majda says: “the only organization I really respect is MSF. The day after the children returned home from the hospital they visited us and kept coming to our house for one year, until the wounds of my children were healed.”
When speaking about her outlook on the future, Majda says “I don’t have a clear picture of what it will be like. What I am sure about is that I cannot guarantee a nice future for my children. But I am trying to teach my children that education is very important for their future and convince them to do well in school.”
Majda is uncertain whether the attack on her family will result in justice in an Israeli court. “They targeted my husband and children, civilians. I am not sure if there will be any result in a court. If there will be any results, they will just make financial compensation and not bring my husband back to life,” she says.
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Nadeem family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
Because of their injuries Bashar and Firas were not able to go back to school until the following semester. Majda called the Ministry of Education and told them that they had to provide the boys with home schooling; “teachers came to teach mathematics, Arabic and English at home, and the boys managed to end their school year with success.”
Despite their optimistic and brave outlook on life, Majda and her children carry with them the psychological scars of the offensive. “The war did change my children. It was a very difficult experience, even for us as adults,” she says. “When we hear explosions we feel fear and remember the war and the attack. If I am afraid, then how must my children be feeling?
In the year after his father was killed, Firas would wake up at night and scream ‘I want my father’. Now he is older and understands that his father will never come back. The school performances of Bashar and Firas have been affected too. It is getting better, but nothing is as it was before the war. Firas is also held back by his medical treatment.”
“We are in need of psychological support,” says Majda. “But the people working in this field only visited us for their own interests; taking photos and videos, for the benefit of their organization only.” Bashar adds: “once, a psychological worker came to talk with me but I couldn’t stay with her.
She was the one who needed help. I told her that and then left the room.” Majda says: “the only organization I really respect is MSF. The day after the children returned home from the hospital they visited us and kept coming to our house for one year, until the wounds of my children were healed.”
When speaking about her outlook on the future, Majda says “I don’t have a clear picture of what it will be like. What I am sure about is that I cannot guarantee a nice future for my children. But I am trying to teach my children that education is very important for their future and convince them to do well in school.”
Majda is uncertain whether the attack on her family will result in justice in an Israeli court. “They targeted my husband and children, civilians. I am not sure if there will be any result in a court. If there will be any results, they will just make financial compensation and not bring my husband back to life,” she says.
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Nadeem family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
14 jan 2012
“We would stay up late at night talking with each other about what had happened over the day, we were brothers, if ever I needed anything I could go to them and they would help me out.”
On 14 January 2009, at approximately 21:00, Israeli aircraft targeted the Mousa family home near al Sabra pharmacy in the south of Gaza City.
Izz Addin Wahid Mousa, 48, his wife,
Maysara Afif Mousa, 48, their sons
Wahid Izz Addi Mousa, 28,
Ahmed Izz Addi Mousa, 27,
Mohammed Izz Addi Mousa, 22, and daughter
Nour Izz Addi Mousa, 15, were killed in the attack.
The physical scars caused by the attack are still clearly visible on twenty-five year old Muhammad Mousa. With nerve and bone damage in both his right arm and leg he has been left with a strong limp and his face displays patches of taut skin showing where he was burnt from the fire that engulfed his home. His injuries have left him unable to continue working in the local marble factory, leaving him unable to pick up the pieces of his life after losing his father, mother, sister and three brothers.
Like many who lost their homes during the offensive, Muhammad, has been forced to move frequently. He has moved five times in the intervening period and, with another years rent due on his current home and no way to pay it, has not yet found stability and security. “After the attack I started rebuilding the destroyed home, but I couldn’t bear to live there, the incident would keep flooding back into my memory,” says Muhammad. “I went to live with my uncle, Hani, but he has a family of his own so I could not stay there.”
Emotionally, Muhammad has found himself hugely altered since the war and has had trouble sleeping since the incident. “At first I could not sleep at night at all, I would sit awake all night and might sleep for a while in the morning.” He now needs help doing basic things that others take for granted, such as preparing food to eat, which leaves him short tempered.
“I lose patience very quickly, when I can’t do something myself I get hugely frustrated and become angry.” This is compounded by the sense of helplessness he feels regarding medical treatment for his injuries, which he says he was told by doctors is only available in Germany. He still requires extensive medical treatment on bone and nerves in his leg and for shrapnel wounds in his abdomen.
“I was in hospital for four months in Egypt (of which two and half months was in intensive care) without knowing the fate of my family. My sisters had initially told me that they were fine for the sake of my recovery. When I told them I was ready to come home they were forced to tell me the news that they had died, I immediately regressed and had to spend another two weeks in intensive care before being able to go.”
Muhammad has fond memories of his deceased brothers Wahid, Ahmed and Mohammad who he was very close to. It is clear he desperately misses their company. “We would stay up late at night talking with each other about what had happened over the day. We were brothers, if ever I needed anything I could go to them and they would help me out.” He says they are never far from his mind day or night, asleep or awake.
Muhammad shares the dreams of any young man for his future; he wants to get married, build a home, and one day have children. But he is sceptical his hopes will come true. “How can I provide for a wife and children, I cannot work, I cannot earn a living.”
While he is optimistic about the outcome of legal action being taken on his behalf in Israeli courts he says what has been taken from him cannot be replaced, what he wants from the case is accountability for those responsible for his family’s death. “Money cannot replace what I have lost, I want to know why our home, which was nowhere near any military operations, was targeted, and why my family, who were not involved in politics, were killed.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Mousa family on 18 May 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
On 14 January 2009, at approximately 21:00, Israeli aircraft targeted the Mousa family home near al Sabra pharmacy in the south of Gaza City.
Izz Addin Wahid Mousa, 48, his wife,
Maysara Afif Mousa, 48, their sons
Wahid Izz Addi Mousa, 28,
Ahmed Izz Addi Mousa, 27,
Mohammed Izz Addi Mousa, 22, and daughter
Nour Izz Addi Mousa, 15, were killed in the attack.
The physical scars caused by the attack are still clearly visible on twenty-five year old Muhammad Mousa. With nerve and bone damage in both his right arm and leg he has been left with a strong limp and his face displays patches of taut skin showing where he was burnt from the fire that engulfed his home. His injuries have left him unable to continue working in the local marble factory, leaving him unable to pick up the pieces of his life after losing his father, mother, sister and three brothers.
Like many who lost their homes during the offensive, Muhammad, has been forced to move frequently. He has moved five times in the intervening period and, with another years rent due on his current home and no way to pay it, has not yet found stability and security. “After the attack I started rebuilding the destroyed home, but I couldn’t bear to live there, the incident would keep flooding back into my memory,” says Muhammad. “I went to live with my uncle, Hani, but he has a family of his own so I could not stay there.”
Emotionally, Muhammad has found himself hugely altered since the war and has had trouble sleeping since the incident. “At first I could not sleep at night at all, I would sit awake all night and might sleep for a while in the morning.” He now needs help doing basic things that others take for granted, such as preparing food to eat, which leaves him short tempered.
“I lose patience very quickly, when I can’t do something myself I get hugely frustrated and become angry.” This is compounded by the sense of helplessness he feels regarding medical treatment for his injuries, which he says he was told by doctors is only available in Germany. He still requires extensive medical treatment on bone and nerves in his leg and for shrapnel wounds in his abdomen.
“I was in hospital for four months in Egypt (of which two and half months was in intensive care) without knowing the fate of my family. My sisters had initially told me that they were fine for the sake of my recovery. When I told them I was ready to come home they were forced to tell me the news that they had died, I immediately regressed and had to spend another two weeks in intensive care before being able to go.”
Muhammad has fond memories of his deceased brothers Wahid, Ahmed and Mohammad who he was very close to. It is clear he desperately misses their company. “We would stay up late at night talking with each other about what had happened over the day. We were brothers, if ever I needed anything I could go to them and they would help me out.” He says they are never far from his mind day or night, asleep or awake.
Muhammad shares the dreams of any young man for his future; he wants to get married, build a home, and one day have children. But he is sceptical his hopes will come true. “How can I provide for a wife and children, I cannot work, I cannot earn a living.”
While he is optimistic about the outcome of legal action being taken on his behalf in Israeli courts he says what has been taken from him cannot be replaced, what he wants from the case is accountability for those responsible for his family’s death. “Money cannot replace what I have lost, I want to know why our home, which was nowhere near any military operations, was targeted, and why my family, who were not involved in politics, were killed.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Mousa family on 18 May 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
13 jan 2012
“The first two years I could manage but this year I have been suffering a lot from the loss of my mother. When I see girls from my school with their mother or talking about their mother, I miss my mother even more. I need to have her with me.”
In the early morning of 13 January 2009, following two days of home demolitions, the Israeli army started to shell the village of Khuza’a and its surroundings, using high explosive and white phosphorous artillery shells.
Israeli bulldozers, tanks and snipers were located on the edge of the village.
At around 7:00 soldiers ordered the residents of eastern Khuza’a, to leave the area and move towards the centre of the village. Holding a white flag, Rawhiya al-Najjar (forty-seven) led a group of approximately twenty women in an attempt to leave as ordered.
Shortly after the group turned the first corner a soldier shot and killed Rawhiya.
Another woman in the group, Yasmin al-Najjar (twenty-three), was injured by two bullets when she tried to take Rawhiya off the road. Medical staff who tried to evacuate Rawhiya’s body were shot at and had to take refuge in a nearby house, and were only able to take the body from the street after more than ten hours.
“I can still hear the bullet hit my mother in the head. I was standing right beside her when the soldier stepped into the doorway of the house ahead and shot her.
I could see him,” says Rawhiya’s seventeen year old daughter Hibba as she depicts the situation with her arms. “I keep wondering why they killed my mother while she was carrying a white cloth in the street, but why I was not killed when I was on the roof of our house earlier that morning.” Hibba still cannot make sense of what happened that day.
Hibba is an the only child. She lives with her father, Naser, his second wife, Nuha, and their three children. Her father married Nuha when it became clear that Rawhiya was not able to have any more children and convinced him to marry a second wife.
Naser became unemployed after the full closure on the Gaza Strip was imposed. Now the family is dependent on aid and shared agriculture with relatives on lands next to the village, close to the border with Israel.
From the day of the incident Hibba and her family stayed away from the house for two weeks, saying it was too dangerous to move in that part of Khuza’a. For the two months after that they only went to their house during the daytime and spent the night at the house of relatives in a safer area.
Since the death of her mother Hibba suffers from nightmares, insomnia, stress, and bedwetting.
“Before, I would sleep immediately. Now I can’t get to sleep at night,” says Hibba. Sometimes her father finds her sleepwalking and talking about her mother.
Lately she has also begun to experience blurry vision and dizziness. When Hibba started to lose her hair a few months ago, Naser took his daughter to a hospital. The doctor told Hibba and her father that she needs to spend some time outside of the Gaza Strip.
Naser is thinking of taking her to Egypt for a little while next summer. However, the closure and high costs make this option far from easy. Hibba says she would like to go out of Gaza but adds that “it will not make me forget anything.”
Hibba’s schoolwork has also been affected by the traumatic experience and death of her mother.
“My mother used to help me with my homework and I used to be very good at school. Now my grades are lower and I am not able to focus in class. When I open a book I feel tired and remember my mother. Even when I study well for an exam, I often forget everything during the exam,” she says.
Hibba enjoys subjects like Islamic religion and geography but feels sad knowing her scores have dropped a lot. This is the final year of high school for Hibba. However, she doesn’t think about what comes after the final exams next summer; “I don’t want to think long-term.”
Hibba does not like the month of January as it reminds here of the time of the offensive. However, she says 13 January is like any other day for her, “there is no difference with other days because I remember my mother every day regardless.”
When she feels most sad she usually takes a chair and sits outside the house for a while. Sometimes talking to relatives and her best friend, who is also her neighbour, brings some relief. Hibba is glad to have such a good friend who tries to support her; “I can tell her everything. Without my friend I would have crumbled under the pressure of my loss.”
Hibba does not think about the future but rather relives what happened to her and her mother on 13 January 2009. “Since the morning I have been thinking a lot of the incident and how we left my mother in the street,” she says, having to pause after every few words.
Many things in daily life remind her of her old life with and her future without her mother. “Whenever I see an old woman in the street I wonder if I will still have a clear memory of my mother when I am at that age.”
Discussing PCHR’s submission of complaints to the Israeli authorities regarding the killing of her mother, Hibba says she does not care: “Nothing can compensate for the loss of my mother but I wish that the soldier who shot my mother will be brought to justice.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Najjar family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
In the early morning of 13 January 2009, following two days of home demolitions, the Israeli army started to shell the village of Khuza’a and its surroundings, using high explosive and white phosphorous artillery shells.
Israeli bulldozers, tanks and snipers were located on the edge of the village.
At around 7:00 soldiers ordered the residents of eastern Khuza’a, to leave the area and move towards the centre of the village. Holding a white flag, Rawhiya al-Najjar (forty-seven) led a group of approximately twenty women in an attempt to leave as ordered.
Shortly after the group turned the first corner a soldier shot and killed Rawhiya.
Another woman in the group, Yasmin al-Najjar (twenty-three), was injured by two bullets when she tried to take Rawhiya off the road. Medical staff who tried to evacuate Rawhiya’s body were shot at and had to take refuge in a nearby house, and were only able to take the body from the street after more than ten hours.
“I can still hear the bullet hit my mother in the head. I was standing right beside her when the soldier stepped into the doorway of the house ahead and shot her.
I could see him,” says Rawhiya’s seventeen year old daughter Hibba as she depicts the situation with her arms. “I keep wondering why they killed my mother while she was carrying a white cloth in the street, but why I was not killed when I was on the roof of our house earlier that morning.” Hibba still cannot make sense of what happened that day.
Hibba is an the only child. She lives with her father, Naser, his second wife, Nuha, and their three children. Her father married Nuha when it became clear that Rawhiya was not able to have any more children and convinced him to marry a second wife.
Naser became unemployed after the full closure on the Gaza Strip was imposed. Now the family is dependent on aid and shared agriculture with relatives on lands next to the village, close to the border with Israel.
From the day of the incident Hibba and her family stayed away from the house for two weeks, saying it was too dangerous to move in that part of Khuza’a. For the two months after that they only went to their house during the daytime and spent the night at the house of relatives in a safer area.
Since the death of her mother Hibba suffers from nightmares, insomnia, stress, and bedwetting.
“Before, I would sleep immediately. Now I can’t get to sleep at night,” says Hibba. Sometimes her father finds her sleepwalking and talking about her mother.
Lately she has also begun to experience blurry vision and dizziness. When Hibba started to lose her hair a few months ago, Naser took his daughter to a hospital. The doctor told Hibba and her father that she needs to spend some time outside of the Gaza Strip.
Naser is thinking of taking her to Egypt for a little while next summer. However, the closure and high costs make this option far from easy. Hibba says she would like to go out of Gaza but adds that “it will not make me forget anything.”
Hibba’s schoolwork has also been affected by the traumatic experience and death of her mother.
“My mother used to help me with my homework and I used to be very good at school. Now my grades are lower and I am not able to focus in class. When I open a book I feel tired and remember my mother. Even when I study well for an exam, I often forget everything during the exam,” she says.
Hibba enjoys subjects like Islamic religion and geography but feels sad knowing her scores have dropped a lot. This is the final year of high school for Hibba. However, she doesn’t think about what comes after the final exams next summer; “I don’t want to think long-term.”
Hibba does not like the month of January as it reminds here of the time of the offensive. However, she says 13 January is like any other day for her, “there is no difference with other days because I remember my mother every day regardless.”
When she feels most sad she usually takes a chair and sits outside the house for a while. Sometimes talking to relatives and her best friend, who is also her neighbour, brings some relief. Hibba is glad to have such a good friend who tries to support her; “I can tell her everything. Without my friend I would have crumbled under the pressure of my loss.”
Hibba does not think about the future but rather relives what happened to her and her mother on 13 January 2009. “Since the morning I have been thinking a lot of the incident and how we left my mother in the street,” she says, having to pause after every few words.
Many things in daily life remind her of her old life with and her future without her mother. “Whenever I see an old woman in the street I wonder if I will still have a clear memory of my mother when I am at that age.”
Discussing PCHR’s submission of complaints to the Israeli authorities regarding the killing of her mother, Hibba says she does not care: “Nothing can compensate for the loss of my mother but I wish that the soldier who shot my mother will be brought to justice.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Najjar family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
12 jan 2012
The Israeli judicial system is partial and biased against Palestinian. It often imposes procedural barriers, and other times, impose more financial burdens, Thursday said a press release published on the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) website.
It said the policies of the Israeli government further imposes physical barriers on effective access of Palestinian victims to the Israeli courts, thus depriving Palestinian victims in general, and victims of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009), codenamed “Operation Cast Lead,” in particular of remedy and redress according to international human rights instruments.
In spite of all such barriers, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights PCHR will continue its serious efforts to ensure remedy for victims, as it is the legal representative in 100 cases on behalf of 626 Palestinian victims affected by Operation Cast Lead.
Strongly believing in the universality of human rights, PCHR will continue it work to face injustice, assist the victims and confront the barriers imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities.
In the context of their effort to deny the victims their right to justice and remedy, Israeli courts of various degrees considering cases filed on behalf of victims of Operation Cast Lead issued a series of decisions limiting access of Palestinian victims to justice.
The most significant decision in this regard was the one compelling each claimant in a civil case to pay a court insurance fee or bank guaranty of 20,000 NIS before the court will allow the case to proceed. If the money is not paid within 60-120 days, the claim will be dismissed.
The insurance fee means that the claimant or his/her representative must pay it to the court’s fund directly, while the bank guaranty is a financial guaranty signed by the claimant or his/her representative to a bank, and the bank deposits such signed guaranty in the court’s fund.
This decision has been issued in regard to 14 of the cases followed up by PCHR before Israeli courts. PCHR filed a number of petitions at the Israeli High Court in Jerusalem, demanding canceling these decisions or decreasing the amount of the guaranty. PCHR established its claim on a number of points, including, inter alia:
1. Determining the Ministry of Defense’s responsibilities for the incidents and the resulting damage.
2. Depositing a guaranty aims at blocking the way for claimants to file compensation claims for the damage incurred to them, as they have the right to know the reasons of killing their family members and it is not a form of fraud on the state.
3. Article 8 of the Basic Law relating to respect for the individuals and their freedom, which is applicable in the Israeli courts, establishes that the rule is that a guaranty must not be obligatory, and the exception is compelling payment of such guaranty.
4. The request to deposit guaranties followed the deposition of the prosecution’s response and before the prosecution explained its narrative of the incidents individually.
5. The amounts of guaranties are too high, especially as the economic conditions of the Gaza Strip’s population is extremely deteriorated.
6. The expenses for the prosecution, when opening an investigation in each case, are less than the amounts required to be deposited.
In its response to PCHR’s petition, the Israeli prosecution claimed that the filed cases relate to incidents that occurred in the context of a clear military operation (Operation Cast Lead), which the Israeli military was forced to launch according to decisions taken by the government of Israel (a military operation, according to the Israeli Civil Torts - Liability of the State – Law of 1952, provides complete impunity against damage claims).
The prosecution further claimed that the claims that are instituted are relating to compensation with dozens of millions of NIS, and due to the high number of claimants and incidents, it is expected that the prosecution is likely to endure high expenses to make a single checking for each incident, its circumstance and the alleged injury.
Additionally, it claimed that the claimants are non-citizens or non-residents of the State of Israel, and they cannot prove that they have property in territory of the State of Israel (the claimants are out of the jurisdiction).
For this reason, according to the prosecution’s claim, it is difficult to endure the expenses if the claim is rejected, and the guaranty compels the claimant to be serious in his/her claim.
In turn, the Israeli High Court rejected PCHR’s petitions and upheld the prosecution’s claims, which confirms the Israeli judiciary’s collusion, its surrender to the government’s dictations and its provision of a legal cover for the government’s illegal actions.
PCHR reiterates that the decisions taken by the Israeli courts with regard to guaranties constitute a large monetary barrier, which deprives the victims of their fundamental right to have an effective judicial remedy, including compensation, in violation of fundamental human rights ensured under the international law.
The right to get compensation is very essential for victims to rebuild their lives partially, although such compensation is worthless in comparison to their loss.
Accordingly, PCHR believes that under the current situation, and in light of such decisions by the Israeli courts and the Israeli judiciary’s bias against Palestinian victims, compensation is one of the remaining little hopes to achieve some form of justice.
It should be noted that the decisions relating to guaranties are part of a series of decisions and measures that have been taken by Israeli occupation authorities over years in order to prevent Palestinians from claiming for compensation before Israeli courts for violations they are subjected to.
On July 27, 2005, the Israeli Knesset approved an amendment to the Civil Torts Law (Liability of the State) of 1952, preventing Palestinians from claiming for compensation for the State of Israel.
In response, 9 human rights organizations, including PCHR, filed a petition at the Israeli High Court challenging the law, and were able to obtain a decision allowing Palestinians to institute individual compensation claims before Israeli courts, and the judge would have the power of appreciation to adjust or reject it, and estimate the amount of the guaranty.
The Civil Torts (Liability of the State) Law had previously been amended to decrease the statute of limitations with respect to a compensation claim from 7 to 2 years, and requiring that a written notice be sent to the Israeli Defense Ministry within 60 days of the incident otherwise the right to judicial remedy will be terminated.
Other monetary barriers include also that Israeli courts often require claimants to pay insurance fees before initiating the judicial procedures. Such fees are left for estimations of courts. Concerning claims related to damages incurred to property, the fees are proportions of the values of property.
In claims related to killings and injuries, there is no specific range for fees. Due to such monetary burdens, PCHR was forced to return several files to the victims.
In addition, there are also physical barriers facing the victims. Since 2007, in spite of decisions by courts summoning victims or eyewitnesses, IOF have prevented them from traveling outside the Gaza Strip. As a result, the Israeli courts dismissed many claims under the pretext of the non-presence of eyewitnesses, and even imposed fines on them.
These barriers are part of a series of systematic restrictions imposed by Israel to limit the ability of Palestinian to claim for compensation before Israeli courts for damage caused to them by Israeli occupation forces. Such restrictions make achieving justice and judicial remedy for Palestinians impossible, so the resort must be to international justice mechanism.
PCHR will continue to use all available means to ensure victims’ fundamental human rights, including the right to reparation. Recently, a compensation of 500,000NIS was secured on behalf of the family of Rayah Salama Abu Hajjaj, 64, and Majeda ‘Abdul Karim Abu Hajjaj, 37.
These two women were killed by Israeli forces near Juhor al-Dik village during Operation Cast Lead. The compensation was awarded in an out of court settlement.
It said the policies of the Israeli government further imposes physical barriers on effective access of Palestinian victims to the Israeli courts, thus depriving Palestinian victims in general, and victims of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009), codenamed “Operation Cast Lead,” in particular of remedy and redress according to international human rights instruments.
In spite of all such barriers, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights PCHR will continue its serious efforts to ensure remedy for victims, as it is the legal representative in 100 cases on behalf of 626 Palestinian victims affected by Operation Cast Lead.
Strongly believing in the universality of human rights, PCHR will continue it work to face injustice, assist the victims and confront the barriers imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities.
In the context of their effort to deny the victims their right to justice and remedy, Israeli courts of various degrees considering cases filed on behalf of victims of Operation Cast Lead issued a series of decisions limiting access of Palestinian victims to justice.
The most significant decision in this regard was the one compelling each claimant in a civil case to pay a court insurance fee or bank guaranty of 20,000 NIS before the court will allow the case to proceed. If the money is not paid within 60-120 days, the claim will be dismissed.
The insurance fee means that the claimant or his/her representative must pay it to the court’s fund directly, while the bank guaranty is a financial guaranty signed by the claimant or his/her representative to a bank, and the bank deposits such signed guaranty in the court’s fund.
This decision has been issued in regard to 14 of the cases followed up by PCHR before Israeli courts. PCHR filed a number of petitions at the Israeli High Court in Jerusalem, demanding canceling these decisions or decreasing the amount of the guaranty. PCHR established its claim on a number of points, including, inter alia:
1. Determining the Ministry of Defense’s responsibilities for the incidents and the resulting damage.
2. Depositing a guaranty aims at blocking the way for claimants to file compensation claims for the damage incurred to them, as they have the right to know the reasons of killing their family members and it is not a form of fraud on the state.
3. Article 8 of the Basic Law relating to respect for the individuals and their freedom, which is applicable in the Israeli courts, establishes that the rule is that a guaranty must not be obligatory, and the exception is compelling payment of such guaranty.
4. The request to deposit guaranties followed the deposition of the prosecution’s response and before the prosecution explained its narrative of the incidents individually.
5. The amounts of guaranties are too high, especially as the economic conditions of the Gaza Strip’s population is extremely deteriorated.
6. The expenses for the prosecution, when opening an investigation in each case, are less than the amounts required to be deposited.
In its response to PCHR’s petition, the Israeli prosecution claimed that the filed cases relate to incidents that occurred in the context of a clear military operation (Operation Cast Lead), which the Israeli military was forced to launch according to decisions taken by the government of Israel (a military operation, according to the Israeli Civil Torts - Liability of the State – Law of 1952, provides complete impunity against damage claims).
The prosecution further claimed that the claims that are instituted are relating to compensation with dozens of millions of NIS, and due to the high number of claimants and incidents, it is expected that the prosecution is likely to endure high expenses to make a single checking for each incident, its circumstance and the alleged injury.
Additionally, it claimed that the claimants are non-citizens or non-residents of the State of Israel, and they cannot prove that they have property in territory of the State of Israel (the claimants are out of the jurisdiction).
For this reason, according to the prosecution’s claim, it is difficult to endure the expenses if the claim is rejected, and the guaranty compels the claimant to be serious in his/her claim.
In turn, the Israeli High Court rejected PCHR’s petitions and upheld the prosecution’s claims, which confirms the Israeli judiciary’s collusion, its surrender to the government’s dictations and its provision of a legal cover for the government’s illegal actions.
PCHR reiterates that the decisions taken by the Israeli courts with regard to guaranties constitute a large monetary barrier, which deprives the victims of their fundamental right to have an effective judicial remedy, including compensation, in violation of fundamental human rights ensured under the international law.
The right to get compensation is very essential for victims to rebuild their lives partially, although such compensation is worthless in comparison to their loss.
Accordingly, PCHR believes that under the current situation, and in light of such decisions by the Israeli courts and the Israeli judiciary’s bias against Palestinian victims, compensation is one of the remaining little hopes to achieve some form of justice.
It should be noted that the decisions relating to guaranties are part of a series of decisions and measures that have been taken by Israeli occupation authorities over years in order to prevent Palestinians from claiming for compensation before Israeli courts for violations they are subjected to.
On July 27, 2005, the Israeli Knesset approved an amendment to the Civil Torts Law (Liability of the State) of 1952, preventing Palestinians from claiming for compensation for the State of Israel.
In response, 9 human rights organizations, including PCHR, filed a petition at the Israeli High Court challenging the law, and were able to obtain a decision allowing Palestinians to institute individual compensation claims before Israeli courts, and the judge would have the power of appreciation to adjust or reject it, and estimate the amount of the guaranty.
The Civil Torts (Liability of the State) Law had previously been amended to decrease the statute of limitations with respect to a compensation claim from 7 to 2 years, and requiring that a written notice be sent to the Israeli Defense Ministry within 60 days of the incident otherwise the right to judicial remedy will be terminated.
Other monetary barriers include also that Israeli courts often require claimants to pay insurance fees before initiating the judicial procedures. Such fees are left for estimations of courts. Concerning claims related to damages incurred to property, the fees are proportions of the values of property.
In claims related to killings and injuries, there is no specific range for fees. Due to such monetary burdens, PCHR was forced to return several files to the victims.
In addition, there are also physical barriers facing the victims. Since 2007, in spite of decisions by courts summoning victims or eyewitnesses, IOF have prevented them from traveling outside the Gaza Strip. As a result, the Israeli courts dismissed many claims under the pretext of the non-presence of eyewitnesses, and even imposed fines on them.
These barriers are part of a series of systematic restrictions imposed by Israel to limit the ability of Palestinian to claim for compensation before Israeli courts for damage caused to them by Israeli occupation forces. Such restrictions make achieving justice and judicial remedy for Palestinians impossible, so the resort must be to international justice mechanism.
PCHR will continue to use all available means to ensure victims’ fundamental human rights, including the right to reparation. Recently, a compensation of 500,000NIS was secured on behalf of the family of Rayah Salama Abu Hajjaj, 64, and Majeda ‘Abdul Karim Abu Hajjaj, 37.
These two women were killed by Israeli forces near Juhor al-Dik village during Operation Cast Lead. The compensation was awarded in an out of court settlement.
Mustafa, Abdel Kareem and Rezeq Ayad
“If there is another war I won’t be moving, even if we die there, I don’t want to go through that again”
On 12 January 2009, the Ayad family home in the Zaytoon area of Gaza City was bulldozed by Israeli forces. Rezeq Ayad, 60, his wife Yusra, 58, and their four sons Mustafa, 16, Muhammed, 20, Abdel Kareem 26, and Khalil, 29, and Khalil’s two daughters were left homeless as a result of the attack. The family had left the area a few days prior to the destruction of their home, as a result of the intense Israeli bombardment of the area.
Speaking to Rezeq Ayad and his son, Abdel Kareem, the relief they feel having put their displacement behind them is clear. Now back in the family home – which they started rebuilding in May 2010 and moved into in October 2010 – the two are glad and thankful that the family are now safe and relatively secure once again. “I remember that time and I just thank God we are all still alive,” says Rezeq.
“We had left the house with nothing but the clothes we were wearing and a few blankets and mattresses,” explains Abdel Kareem, “we lost everything with the house when it was bulldozed.” In the aftermath of the attack the whole family were forced to find alternative shelter. “I and my wife moved to relatives in Asqoula in Gaza City,” says Rezeq, “my son Abdel Kareem was forced to move to the al Samouni neighbourhood and my son Khalil had no choice but to spend two years in a tent camp with his wife and young daughters.”
Rezeq’s son, Muhammed Ayad, who was 17 at the time, built a small structure among the ruins of the family home and stayed there so he could watch over the house and his donkeys, which he kept in the area.
Abdel Kareem and his wife Shaheera, 22, spent a little over a year in a makeshift hut that he built from corrugated iron and plastic. “My wife is from the al Samouni family; after the massacre of the al Samouni’s in that area during the war she didn’t want to move there out of fear of another attack taking place. But we had nowhere else to go.” Abdel Kareem describes the conditions the couple endured over that year as “intolerable.” “During the summer it was unbearably hot, during the winter, unbearably cold.”
Shaheera was pregnant with the young couple’s first child at the time the couple were homeless. “There was no running water or electricity in the hut. Shaheera would have to wait for me to come home from work to bring her water. Her pregnancy was very difficult. I was working selling vegetables and transporting goods to save money to build my house,” says Abdul Kareem, “the day we moved in my wife gave birth to my little girl Ru’al.” Reflecting on the incident Abdul stresses that he would be unwilling to put himself and his family through the same experience once more. “If there is another war I won’t be moving, even if we die there, I don’t want to go through that again.”
Khalil Ayad, his wife Nabila and their daughters Islam, 5, and Gadeer, 4, were also forced into haphazard makeshift accommodation after the attack. “Khalil went to a tent camp in the Zaytoon area of Gaza. There were a lot of families displaced during the war that moved there temporarily. But Khalil’s was the last family to leave. They spent two years there in total” says Rezeq. “They would collect firewood to cook and boil water and they shared a common well with the rest of the camp residents for water.” During this experience, Nabila gave birth to, Rezeq, now 1. Like Shaheera, Nabila’s pregnancy occurred under very difficult circumstances.
Talking of the future, Abdel Kareem’s hopes are simple. “I hope to be strong enough to continue my life and to be a good man” he says. As regards the families complaint with the Israeli government Rezeq and Abdel Kareem are dismissive of any potential for redress; “We don’t expect anything from the case. The house was a small home in a quiet residential neighbourhood. It was clearly not a military target. The soldiers knew what they were doing; they just wanted to destroy it. They will not investigate.”
Discussing how he was able to rebuild the family home following its destruction Rezeq explains that he had savings from his time as a school teacher in a local UNRWA school. Talking about what he had planned to do with the money he had saved over a lifetime, prior to spending it all on repairing the damage caused by the Israeli military, Rezeq says that he had hoped to help his sons with their marriage and their education. “I spent everything I had saved,” says Rezeq with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders, “so now I start again.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Ayad family on 2 August 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
“If there is another war I won’t be moving, even if we die there, I don’t want to go through that again”
On 12 January 2009, the Ayad family home in the Zaytoon area of Gaza City was bulldozed by Israeli forces. Rezeq Ayad, 60, his wife Yusra, 58, and their four sons Mustafa, 16, Muhammed, 20, Abdel Kareem 26, and Khalil, 29, and Khalil’s two daughters were left homeless as a result of the attack. The family had left the area a few days prior to the destruction of their home, as a result of the intense Israeli bombardment of the area.
Speaking to Rezeq Ayad and his son, Abdel Kareem, the relief they feel having put their displacement behind them is clear. Now back in the family home – which they started rebuilding in May 2010 and moved into in October 2010 – the two are glad and thankful that the family are now safe and relatively secure once again. “I remember that time and I just thank God we are all still alive,” says Rezeq.
“We had left the house with nothing but the clothes we were wearing and a few blankets and mattresses,” explains Abdel Kareem, “we lost everything with the house when it was bulldozed.” In the aftermath of the attack the whole family were forced to find alternative shelter. “I and my wife moved to relatives in Asqoula in Gaza City,” says Rezeq, “my son Abdel Kareem was forced to move to the al Samouni neighbourhood and my son Khalil had no choice but to spend two years in a tent camp with his wife and young daughters.”
Rezeq’s son, Muhammed Ayad, who was 17 at the time, built a small structure among the ruins of the family home and stayed there so he could watch over the house and his donkeys, which he kept in the area.
Abdel Kareem and his wife Shaheera, 22, spent a little over a year in a makeshift hut that he built from corrugated iron and plastic. “My wife is from the al Samouni family; after the massacre of the al Samouni’s in that area during the war she didn’t want to move there out of fear of another attack taking place. But we had nowhere else to go.” Abdel Kareem describes the conditions the couple endured over that year as “intolerable.” “During the summer it was unbearably hot, during the winter, unbearably cold.”
Shaheera was pregnant with the young couple’s first child at the time the couple were homeless. “There was no running water or electricity in the hut. Shaheera would have to wait for me to come home from work to bring her water. Her pregnancy was very difficult. I was working selling vegetables and transporting goods to save money to build my house,” says Abdul Kareem, “the day we moved in my wife gave birth to my little girl Ru’al.” Reflecting on the incident Abdul stresses that he would be unwilling to put himself and his family through the same experience once more. “If there is another war I won’t be moving, even if we die there, I don’t want to go through that again.”
Khalil Ayad, his wife Nabila and their daughters Islam, 5, and Gadeer, 4, were also forced into haphazard makeshift accommodation after the attack. “Khalil went to a tent camp in the Zaytoon area of Gaza. There were a lot of families displaced during the war that moved there temporarily. But Khalil’s was the last family to leave. They spent two years there in total” says Rezeq. “They would collect firewood to cook and boil water and they shared a common well with the rest of the camp residents for water.” During this experience, Nabila gave birth to, Rezeq, now 1. Like Shaheera, Nabila’s pregnancy occurred under very difficult circumstances.
Talking of the future, Abdel Kareem’s hopes are simple. “I hope to be strong enough to continue my life and to be a good man” he says. As regards the families complaint with the Israeli government Rezeq and Abdel Kareem are dismissive of any potential for redress; “We don’t expect anything from the case. The house was a small home in a quiet residential neighbourhood. It was clearly not a military target. The soldiers knew what they were doing; they just wanted to destroy it. They will not investigate.”
Discussing how he was able to rebuild the family home following its destruction Rezeq explains that he had savings from his time as a school teacher in a local UNRWA school. Talking about what he had planned to do with the money he had saved over a lifetime, prior to spending it all on repairing the damage caused by the Israeli military, Rezeq says that he had hoped to help his sons with their marriage and their education. “I spent everything I had saved,” says Rezeq with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders, “so now I start again.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Ayad family on 2 August 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
11 jan 2012
Talat and Intissar Hamouda
“I cannot even pick up another child in my arms, I had a new grandchild, he is six months old, but I have yet to take him in my arms, I feel that place belongs to Fares”
In the early morning of 11 January 2009, the home of Intissar Hamouda, 41, in Tal Al-Hawa. Gaza City, came under attack from Israeli forces. Israeli tank fire resulted in the death of her son, Fares Hamouda, who was two years old at the time of the attack, and her step son Muhammed who she cared for with her husband Talat, 54, Muhammed’s father. Fares died immediately in Intissar’s arms, while Muhammed bled to death as medical crews were unable to reach them.
“Muhammed and Fares had a lot in common. After I had Fares I could not breastfeed so we had to give him manufactured milk. Muhammed lost his mother at ten months and so was also fed manufactured baby milk. As a result, both had similar illnesses with similar symptoms,” says Intissar. Throughout their brief time together the brothers remained close. “Fares would refuse to go to sleep until Muhammed came home from school. On the day of the attack Fares was sick, but he refused to take medicine from me, he wanted it from Muhammed,” says Intissar.
Following the attack Intissar was severely debilitated. “I could not walk on my legs even six months after the incident due to injuries in my legs and pelvis; I needed help from my step daughters and sisters to move around the house.” Intissar has since undergone three surgeries to remove shrapnel from her abdomen as well as reconstructive plastic surgery.
Fares was not only close to his half brother Muhammed, but also to Intissar’s step daughter Kariman and step grandchild Rania, who were 13 and 2 respectively at the time of the incident. Both have been traumatised as a result. “Kariman became extremely aggressive in school and at the advice of teachers Talat decided to withdraw her from it,” says Imtissar. “Three months following the incident I came back to the house with Rania to get her toys and other things, but she begged me not to enter the house and wouldn’t take anything from it.” Similarly, Intissar said that “ten days ago we were in the Old City shopping and Rania saw a funeral of someone killed in a recent Israeli attack, it reminded Rania of Fares and Muhammed and she started to cry, when I explained they had gone to heaven, she replied, “just like Muhammed and Fares”.”
Intissar and Talat have both been emotionally affected by the loss of their sons. “I cannot even pick up another child in my arms, I had a new grandchild, he is six months old, but I have yet to take him in my arms, I feel that place belongs to Fares,” says Talat. The anniversary is particularly hard on Intissar, who still suffers chronic pain from nerve damage as a result of the attack. “As the day approaches they show interviews taken of me after the incident or start to talk about the attack,” says Intissar, “I can’t even watch stories of other women with similar experiences, so I don’t turn on the television.”
As regards the future the couple feel they have nothing left to be taken from them. “We lost the nearest things to us, we have nothing else left to lose,” says Intissar. “I am no longer even afraid of the bombings.” However Intissar clings to some hope that she can have another child following the death of Fares, who she tried to conceive for 21 years. “I have tried through artificial insemination already, but it didn’t work. I’m hoping to try again.” Similarly Talat has hopes that there will be political reconciliation among the Palestinian political factions. Regarding the prospects of their complaint in Israeli courts, Intissar is unimpressed; “the Israeli’s committed war crimes against us, they destroy the houses over the heads of civilians, I expect no justice from them.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Hamouda Family on 21 July 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
“I cannot even pick up another child in my arms, I had a new grandchild, he is six months old, but I have yet to take him in my arms, I feel that place belongs to Fares”
In the early morning of 11 January 2009, the home of Intissar Hamouda, 41, in Tal Al-Hawa. Gaza City, came under attack from Israeli forces. Israeli tank fire resulted in the death of her son, Fares Hamouda, who was two years old at the time of the attack, and her step son Muhammed who she cared for with her husband Talat, 54, Muhammed’s father. Fares died immediately in Intissar’s arms, while Muhammed bled to death as medical crews were unable to reach them.
“Muhammed and Fares had a lot in common. After I had Fares I could not breastfeed so we had to give him manufactured milk. Muhammed lost his mother at ten months and so was also fed manufactured baby milk. As a result, both had similar illnesses with similar symptoms,” says Intissar. Throughout their brief time together the brothers remained close. “Fares would refuse to go to sleep until Muhammed came home from school. On the day of the attack Fares was sick, but he refused to take medicine from me, he wanted it from Muhammed,” says Intissar.
Following the attack Intissar was severely debilitated. “I could not walk on my legs even six months after the incident due to injuries in my legs and pelvis; I needed help from my step daughters and sisters to move around the house.” Intissar has since undergone three surgeries to remove shrapnel from her abdomen as well as reconstructive plastic surgery.
Fares was not only close to his half brother Muhammed, but also to Intissar’s step daughter Kariman and step grandchild Rania, who were 13 and 2 respectively at the time of the incident. Both have been traumatised as a result. “Kariman became extremely aggressive in school and at the advice of teachers Talat decided to withdraw her from it,” says Imtissar. “Three months following the incident I came back to the house with Rania to get her toys and other things, but she begged me not to enter the house and wouldn’t take anything from it.” Similarly, Intissar said that “ten days ago we were in the Old City shopping and Rania saw a funeral of someone killed in a recent Israeli attack, it reminded Rania of Fares and Muhammed and she started to cry, when I explained they had gone to heaven, she replied, “just like Muhammed and Fares”.”
Intissar and Talat have both been emotionally affected by the loss of their sons. “I cannot even pick up another child in my arms, I had a new grandchild, he is six months old, but I have yet to take him in my arms, I feel that place belongs to Fares,” says Talat. The anniversary is particularly hard on Intissar, who still suffers chronic pain from nerve damage as a result of the attack. “As the day approaches they show interviews taken of me after the incident or start to talk about the attack,” says Intissar, “I can’t even watch stories of other women with similar experiences, so I don’t turn on the television.”
As regards the future the couple feel they have nothing left to be taken from them. “We lost the nearest things to us, we have nothing else left to lose,” says Intissar. “I am no longer even afraid of the bombings.” However Intissar clings to some hope that she can have another child following the death of Fares, who she tried to conceive for 21 years. “I have tried through artificial insemination already, but it didn’t work. I’m hoping to try again.” Similarly Talat has hopes that there will be political reconciliation among the Palestinian political factions. Regarding the prospects of their complaint in Israeli courts, Intissar is unimpressed; “the Israeli’s committed war crimes against us, they destroy the houses over the heads of civilians, I expect no justice from them.”
PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the Hamouda Family on 21 July 2009. To-date, no response has been received.