Mohammed Jihad al-Halw 11
Killed 23 mar 2011
Killed 23 mar 2011
Mohammed Jalal al-Hilu 11
Killed 22 mar 2011
Four Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed and 12 others injured when Israeli tanks bombarded a house in Gaza City on Tuesday afternoon.
Local sources said that Israeli tanks stationed at the borders fired five shells at the house of Fayek al-Hilou and a nearby soccer playground, located in the al-Shoujaya neighborhood of Gaza City.
Medics said that four people were killed:
1- Mohammed Jalal al-Hilu, 11,
2-Yasser 'Aahed al-Hilu, 16,
3- Mohammed Saber Harara, 19, and
4- Yasser Hamed al-Hilu, 50.
Twelve other civilians were injured, including four other children in critical condition, medics told PNN.
Eyewitnesses said the wounded Palestinians were transported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City and Kemal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya for treatment. According to Palestinian state-run news wire Wafa, huge damage was reported to homes and property and school children were terrified.
Killed 22 mar 2011
Four Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed and 12 others injured when Israeli tanks bombarded a house in Gaza City on Tuesday afternoon.
Local sources said that Israeli tanks stationed at the borders fired five shells at the house of Fayek al-Hilou and a nearby soccer playground, located in the al-Shoujaya neighborhood of Gaza City.
Medics said that four people were killed:
1- Mohammed Jalal al-Hilu, 11,
2-Yasser 'Aahed al-Hilu, 16,
3- Mohammed Saber Harara, 19, and
4- Yasser Hamed al-Hilu, 50.
Twelve other civilians were injured, including four other children in critical condition, medics told PNN.
Eyewitnesses said the wounded Palestinians were transported to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City and Kemal Adwan hospital in Beit Lahiya for treatment. According to Palestinian state-run news wire Wafa, huge damage was reported to homes and property and school children were terrified.
Muhammad Taysir Muhammad Zumlot 11
Died of his wounds 5 june 2009 of Jabalya refugee camp, Gaza, died in al-Amal Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza, of head wounds sustained Jan. 6 from IDF bombing while at home in Block 2 of Jabalya refugee camp. His grandmother and father were also killed in the attack. Cast Lead |
Naji Hassanein 11
Killed 20 feb 2009 Place of martyrdom: in the yard of her house - Shijaia district - east of Gaza Reason cited: the explosion of a mine left over from the war. Cast Lead |
Muhammad Yahya Said Baba 11
Died of his wounds 26 jan 2009 sustained Jan. 10 in an IDF attack on Beit Lahya. Cast Lead |
OPERATION CAST LEAD 27 DEC 2008-18 JAN 1009
Yihya al-Hayek 11
Killed along with seven other persons while on the street next to the former Preventive Security headquarters, in the Tel al- Hawa neighborhood, when it was bombed. |
Ibrahim al-’Ur 11
Killed 18-01-09 Killed at home with four members of his family. |
‘Issa Ermelat 11
Killed 16-01-09 Killed while collecting wood with his friends. |
Bassem ‘Abd a-Nabi 11
Died of his wounds 14-01-09 Killed with his uncle father and brother when their home was bombed on 13-01-09. |
Nasha’t al-Feiri 11
Killed 12-01-09 Killed when riding in a car with a taxi driver who was on his way to fill up water containers. |
Ayat al-Bana 11
Killed 12-01-09 Killed with three other persons, among them a physician who was trying to treat wounded persons, when an apartment building she lived in was shelled. |
Rana Salahah 11
Killed 08-01-09 Killed while at home with her family. |
Alaa Jaber 11
Killed 08-01-09 Killed while in her house on Gaza Street. |
Husam Subuh 11
Killed 07-01-09
Killed while on the street in a-Salatin neighborhood.
At that horrible day, no one was at home to calm down Hossam’s mother, who was very worried about her kids, while the shots of bullets, missiles, and bombs are surrounding their home.
Hossam’s mother was alone with her kids missing her supportive husband who was martyred two years ago.
The mother feared of keep staying alone with her kids at home, so she took them to Hafsa School in Beit Lahiya looking for safety which they lack at home.
But Hossam preferred to stay with his grandparents in Abou Hussein School as they need him.
Hossam’s mother agreed and was calling them every now and then to assure Hossam is alright.
After days of hiding from the missiles at these schools, rumors came up that their home is burned under the attacks.
Hossam came out with his friends to check his home that holds all his memories since he was born. But while they were on their way, an Israeli aircraft shot Hossam directly with a missile that split his body into pieces. He was killed at once.
When mother heard the news, she didn’t believe it, left the school, ran in the streets in her way to Kamal Adwan Hospital. She called his grandfather via mobile, who told her in sad words "Come to say goodbye to Hossam; he is in the morgue".
Mother was shocked and lost her consciousness immediately. When she was awaken, she saw Hossam’s body laid out in front of her. She kissed him and prayed to God to accept him among martyrs.
Killed 07-01-09
Killed while on the street in a-Salatin neighborhood.
At that horrible day, no one was at home to calm down Hossam’s mother, who was very worried about her kids, while the shots of bullets, missiles, and bombs are surrounding their home.
Hossam’s mother was alone with her kids missing her supportive husband who was martyred two years ago.
The mother feared of keep staying alone with her kids at home, so she took them to Hafsa School in Beit Lahiya looking for safety which they lack at home.
But Hossam preferred to stay with his grandparents in Abou Hussein School as they need him.
Hossam’s mother agreed and was calling them every now and then to assure Hossam is alright.
After days of hiding from the missiles at these schools, rumors came up that their home is burned under the attacks.
Hossam came out with his friends to check his home that holds all his memories since he was born. But while they were on their way, an Israeli aircraft shot Hossam directly with a missile that split his body into pieces. He was killed at once.
When mother heard the news, she didn’t believe it, left the school, ran in the streets in her way to Kamal Adwan Hospital. She called his grandfather via mobile, who told her in sad words "Come to say goodbye to Hossam; he is in the morgue".
Mother was shocked and lost her consciousness immediately. When she was awaken, she saw Hossam’s body laid out in front of her. She kissed him and prayed to God to accept him among martyrs.
Radwan ‘Ashur 11
Killed 07-01-09 Killed with his brother at their home in a-Zeitun neighborhood. |
Hamzah Tantish 11
Killed 04-01-09 Killed with his cousin while they were on the roof of the house. |
Tawfiq el-Kahlut 11
Killed 07-01-09 Killed while riding in a car with members of his family. His father, two brothers, and another relative were also killed. |
Islam Abu ‘Amshah 11
Killed 06-01-09 Killed while in her home. |
Ranin Saleh 11
Killed 06-01-09 Killed with her mother, father, and sister-in-law while they were at home. |
Ibrahim Barakeh 11
Killed 06-01-09 Killed in the street while on his way home from his grandmother’s house. |
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Sayyed Abu ‘Easheh 11
Killed 05-01-09 Killed with his parents and siblings while they were at home in a-Nasser neighborhood, which lies some 200 meters from the Internal Ministry headquarters and the former Palestinian Intelligence headquarters. |
‘Omar al-Bard’i 11
Killed 04-01-09
Killed while transporting paramedics to wounded combatants.
Details of the last hours:
On January 4, El-Dahadeeh neighborhood at Agleen, North Gaza, had a difficult time when Israeli tanks entered the region. On that day, an ambulance came to this isolated agricultural region to save the lives of some wounded people. The ambulance stopped before El-Bardei house asking about the address. Om-Mahmoud had no choice but to send her son to show the ambulance team the way to their destination.
Few meters after Omar walked with the ambulance team, the Israeli tanks deployed at the place bombarded the ambulance with a stream of heavy gun fires and put an end to Omar’s little steps. The ambulance team and Omar’s bodies were mangled and scattered in the agricultural fields.
Hearing about the ruthless massacre, the region’s residents were terrified and moved to some other place that might be safer. But, Om-Mahmoud conceded to the voice of her heart and stayed to collect her son’s torn parts scattered everywhere. After Omar’s brothers had left the house, the mother started to search for Omar’s remains, but in vain. Twenty four hours later, the Red Cross came to pick up the causalities and at the same time Om-Mahmoud returned to look again for her dead son’s remains. The scene was shocking and excruciating. He was a kid who went to show an ambulance the way to get to the wounded, but why were they killed?!
More Information:
Omar, 11 years old, was a six grade student in a primary school. There were many characteristics that distinguished him from his peers. The mother said “Omar was so content with his life. If his pocket money was available, he took it and went to school, if not; he contented himself with the situation. If he wanted to go on a school trip, I gave him a part of the fees required and he tried to provide the remaining sum on his own.”, the mother added “He was calm and obedient, I never felt tired of his bringing up…he memorized two parts of the Noble Quran and divided his time between two mosques, Al-Sabreen and Omar-Ibn-Elkhatab”
His Dreams:
Omar’s dream was not impossible; he wished to be a teacher in one of Gaza’s schools. In fact, it was more than a dream; Omar exerted much effort to achieve his goal since he gathered his nephews in his own house and played the role of a teacher. He, also, spared no effort to get full marks in all his school subjects.
Missing Omar and yearning to see him once more tormented the mother who failed to erase Omar’s picture coming from school from her memory; she imagined him open the house door, step towards her, kiss her hand and help her prepare lunch. “Owing to my grief at the death of my two murdered sons Musab and Zaid, I have been suffering from some diseases. Omar felt sorry for me and used to share in the housework; he cooked the food for me, handed me the medicines…he was my right arm. …Oh! Allah…they killed him coldblooded.”
Omar adored the school activities and was a scout. He took part in the healthy school activities and had a white uniform which he cared much for and washed by himself. Omar’s mother said “whenever I saw him in that white uniform, I felt as if he were a real doctor and I prayed he would be. Everyone who knew Omar felt deep sorrow and pain after the death of such a distinguished child. Not only are Omar’s mother and brothers deeply tormented by his death, but his teachers, school headmaster and school mates as well.
Killed 04-01-09
Killed while transporting paramedics to wounded combatants.
Details of the last hours:
On January 4, El-Dahadeeh neighborhood at Agleen, North Gaza, had a difficult time when Israeli tanks entered the region. On that day, an ambulance came to this isolated agricultural region to save the lives of some wounded people. The ambulance stopped before El-Bardei house asking about the address. Om-Mahmoud had no choice but to send her son to show the ambulance team the way to their destination.
Few meters after Omar walked with the ambulance team, the Israeli tanks deployed at the place bombarded the ambulance with a stream of heavy gun fires and put an end to Omar’s little steps. The ambulance team and Omar’s bodies were mangled and scattered in the agricultural fields.
Hearing about the ruthless massacre, the region’s residents were terrified and moved to some other place that might be safer. But, Om-Mahmoud conceded to the voice of her heart and stayed to collect her son’s torn parts scattered everywhere. After Omar’s brothers had left the house, the mother started to search for Omar’s remains, but in vain. Twenty four hours later, the Red Cross came to pick up the causalities and at the same time Om-Mahmoud returned to look again for her dead son’s remains. The scene was shocking and excruciating. He was a kid who went to show an ambulance the way to get to the wounded, but why were they killed?!
More Information:
Omar, 11 years old, was a six grade student in a primary school. There were many characteristics that distinguished him from his peers. The mother said “Omar was so content with his life. If his pocket money was available, he took it and went to school, if not; he contented himself with the situation. If he wanted to go on a school trip, I gave him a part of the fees required and he tried to provide the remaining sum on his own.”, the mother added “He was calm and obedient, I never felt tired of his bringing up…he memorized two parts of the Noble Quran and divided his time between two mosques, Al-Sabreen and Omar-Ibn-Elkhatab”
His Dreams:
Omar’s dream was not impossible; he wished to be a teacher in one of Gaza’s schools. In fact, it was more than a dream; Omar exerted much effort to achieve his goal since he gathered his nephews in his own house and played the role of a teacher. He, also, spared no effort to get full marks in all his school subjects.
Missing Omar and yearning to see him once more tormented the mother who failed to erase Omar’s picture coming from school from her memory; she imagined him open the house door, step towards her, kiss her hand and help her prepare lunch. “Owing to my grief at the death of my two murdered sons Musab and Zaid, I have been suffering from some diseases. Omar felt sorry for me and used to share in the housework; he cooked the food for me, handed me the medicines…he was my right arm. …Oh! Allah…they killed him coldblooded.”
Omar adored the school activities and was a scout. He took part in the healthy school activities and had a white uniform which he cared much for and washed by himself. Omar’s mother said “whenever I saw him in that white uniform, I felt as if he were a real doctor and I prayed he would be. Everyone who knew Omar felt deep sorrow and pain after the death of such a distinguished child. Not only are Omar’s mother and brothers deeply tormented by his death, but his teachers, school headmaster and school mates as well.
Muhammad a-Silawi 11
Killed 03-01-09 Killed by mortar fire that hit the street next to UNRWA’s al-Fakhura school, in the Jabalya refugee camp, where persons had gone for refuge having been forced to leave their houses. 
‘Abd al-Qader Rayan 11
Killed 01-01-09 Son of Nizar Rayan, a senior Hamas official. He was killed along with 15 members of his family when the family’s house was bombed. The army contends that the house was used to store ammunition and a tunnel had been built under it. |
Muhammad Yihya Sa'id al-Baba 11
Killed 10-01-09 Injured while sitting with his family in the yard of their house and died later. 
Aya Rayan 11
Killed 01-01-09 Daughter of Nizar Rayan, a senior Hamas official. She was killed along with 15 members of her family when the family’s house was bombed. The army contends that the house was used to store ammunition and a tunnel had been built under it. |
‘Abd a-Satart al-Astal 11
Killed 02-01-09 Killed with two children from his family while playing in the street. |
Muhammad al-Astal 11
Killed 02-01-09 Killed with two children from his family while playing in the street. |
Eyad al-Astal Family on the picture:
"The second of January is no different from any other day. Every day and every minute feels like the moment when I lost my sons. In everything there is a memory of them. I miss them all the time.”
On 2 January 2009 at around 14:30 an Israeli drone fired a missile at an open area in Qarara village, close to Khan Yunis. The missile struck and killed two brothers, Mohammed (twelve) and Abed Rabbo (nine) al-Astal, and their cousin, Abdul Sattar Walid al-Astal (eleven) while they were playing and eating sugar canes in the land.
“I was at home when I heard an explosion that was close to our area. An Israeli drone was flying in the sky above us at that moment.” Eyad al-Astal recalls. “Approximately ten minutes later, my brother Ibrahim () came to my house and told me that my two sons and their cousin were killed by an Israeli shell. I rapidly left the house and headed to the scene about 250 meters west of my house. There I saw a deep hole. Traces of blood and fragments of flesh were still there.”
Three years have passed since Eyad lost his two sons but he still carries vivid memories with him. “Every day and every minute feels like the moment when I lost my sons. In everything there is a memory of them. I miss them all the time.”
Eyad tries to describe what the life of his family is like without Mohammed and Abed Rabbo: “Our lives have been very difficult since they were killed. Every time I see another boy their age, I remember my sons. I still cannot look at their photos, it is too painful.” He says; “I always feel like crying but I try not to. My wife, Jawaher, cries everyday but tries to hide her tears from me. She does not want to add salt to my wounds. My wife always wants to go to our sons’ graves with her mother, but I don’t. I only went once and don’t want to go again. I can’t face the sight of their graves.”
Besides Mohammed and Abed Rabbo, Eyad and his wife have five daughters and two sons. Mohammed and Abed Rabbo were the oldest children and their siblings were either very young or not born yet at the time of their death. The youngest child was born one and a half years after the war and will have no memories at all. “When the children ask us where their brothers are we tell them that they were killed, martyred, and are in heaven now”, says Eyad.
The memory of his sons is at the tip of Eyad’s tongue. “My son Khaled looks exactly like his brother Mohammed and I often find myself saying ‘Mohammed!’ when I actually mean to call Khaled.” In order to keep going, Eyad tries to stay busy all the time, finding some distraction by meeting people and working as a mason.
Since the death of his sons Eyad is tormented by worries and fears for the safety of his other children. Before the death of Mohammed and Abed Rabbo he allowed his children to go anywhere at anytime. Even when there were explosions and shooting was heard in the area. After the incident he became very afraid for his children and he wants to keep them inside. “I am afraid that anything would happen to them, especially for my son Khaled, who is now in the first grade. From the moment he leaves the house I worry that something could happen to him. Every day he walks to school, which is 1 kilometer away from our home. I know education is important, otherwise I would forbid him to go, out of my fear.”
The children themselves are aware that their brothers were killed by a drone: the same type of drone they often hear and see flying above themselves. Eyad explains that “when they hear a drone they are too afraid to go outside. ‘The drone will bomb me if I go out’, is what they say.”
The area where Mohammed and Abed Rabbo were killed was an open area approximately three kilometres away from the border with Israel. “The children were used to playing in that area. Our piece of land is close to it. It is an agricultural residential area, far from any hostilities,” Eyad explains.
Eyad is sceptical about the future, given the continuing impunity. “The Israelis disregard our rights. They kill our children and bulldoze our lands and no one will hold them accountable,” he says. “I expect the Israeli court to reject our complaint. I can even imagine them killing me together with my other children. However, I want to hope that the complaint would have some result.”
2 jan 2011 PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Astal family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
"The second of January is no different from any other day. Every day and every minute feels like the moment when I lost my sons. In everything there is a memory of them. I miss them all the time.”
On 2 January 2009 at around 14:30 an Israeli drone fired a missile at an open area in Qarara village, close to Khan Yunis. The missile struck and killed two brothers, Mohammed (twelve) and Abed Rabbo (nine) al-Astal, and their cousin, Abdul Sattar Walid al-Astal (eleven) while they were playing and eating sugar canes in the land.
“I was at home when I heard an explosion that was close to our area. An Israeli drone was flying in the sky above us at that moment.” Eyad al-Astal recalls. “Approximately ten minutes later, my brother Ibrahim () came to my house and told me that my two sons and their cousin were killed by an Israeli shell. I rapidly left the house and headed to the scene about 250 meters west of my house. There I saw a deep hole. Traces of blood and fragments of flesh were still there.”
Three years have passed since Eyad lost his two sons but he still carries vivid memories with him. “Every day and every minute feels like the moment when I lost my sons. In everything there is a memory of them. I miss them all the time.”
Eyad tries to describe what the life of his family is like without Mohammed and Abed Rabbo: “Our lives have been very difficult since they were killed. Every time I see another boy their age, I remember my sons. I still cannot look at their photos, it is too painful.” He says; “I always feel like crying but I try not to. My wife, Jawaher, cries everyday but tries to hide her tears from me. She does not want to add salt to my wounds. My wife always wants to go to our sons’ graves with her mother, but I don’t. I only went once and don’t want to go again. I can’t face the sight of their graves.”
Besides Mohammed and Abed Rabbo, Eyad and his wife have five daughters and two sons. Mohammed and Abed Rabbo were the oldest children and their siblings were either very young or not born yet at the time of their death. The youngest child was born one and a half years after the war and will have no memories at all. “When the children ask us where their brothers are we tell them that they were killed, martyred, and are in heaven now”, says Eyad.
The memory of his sons is at the tip of Eyad’s tongue. “My son Khaled looks exactly like his brother Mohammed and I often find myself saying ‘Mohammed!’ when I actually mean to call Khaled.” In order to keep going, Eyad tries to stay busy all the time, finding some distraction by meeting people and working as a mason.
Since the death of his sons Eyad is tormented by worries and fears for the safety of his other children. Before the death of Mohammed and Abed Rabbo he allowed his children to go anywhere at anytime. Even when there were explosions and shooting was heard in the area. After the incident he became very afraid for his children and he wants to keep them inside. “I am afraid that anything would happen to them, especially for my son Khaled, who is now in the first grade. From the moment he leaves the house I worry that something could happen to him. Every day he walks to school, which is 1 kilometer away from our home. I know education is important, otherwise I would forbid him to go, out of my fear.”
The children themselves are aware that their brothers were killed by a drone: the same type of drone they often hear and see flying above themselves. Eyad explains that “when they hear a drone they are too afraid to go outside. ‘The drone will bomb me if I go out’, is what they say.”
The area where Mohammed and Abed Rabbo were killed was an open area approximately three kilometres away from the border with Israel. “The children were used to playing in that area. Our piece of land is close to it. It is an agricultural residential area, far from any hostilities,” Eyad explains.
Eyad is sceptical about the future, given the continuing impunity. “The Israelis disregard our rights. They kill our children and bulldoze our lands and no one will hold them accountable,” he says. “I expect the Israeli court to reject our complaint. I can even imagine them killing me together with my other children. However, I want to hope that the complaint would have some result.”
2 jan 2011 PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf of the al-Astal family on 23 June 2009. To-date, no response has been received.
OPERATION CAST LEAD 27 DEC 2008-18 JAN 1009
