Opinion Editorials, June 2006, To see today's opinion articles, click here: www.aljazeerah.info
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A Short Trip to Gaza Made them Orphans
By Sami Abu Salem
June 23, 2006
KHANYOUNIS, June 22, 2006, (WAFA)-
It is just an old house at the northern edge of Khanyounis City, south of the Gaza Strip. Its asbestos ceiling, wrinkled walls, and very old woody doors with holes reflect the cruel poverty of Abdelqader Ahmed 57.
The 80 year old mother, Fadhiyya Ahmed, was spending yesterday one of her favourite times; sons, daughters, grandsons, sons-in-law gathered around here celebrating the return of her son, Zakariyya from Saudi Arabia.
The whole family and guests were having their lunch when an Israeli rocket pounded the house. Fatima 37, pregnant, was instantly killed with her brother guest Zakariyya 45.
The 18 month old, Khaled, the son of Fatima, was critically wounded and carried to hospital. Shaima 25, who is pregnant, was critically wounded in the attack.
They receive treatment at the Intensive care unit in Gaza. Physicians at Shifa hospital preferred not to talk to her as her condition is not stable.
The 80-year-old, Fadhiyya, was wounded in the attack. Still she is shocked. Could not answer our questions but with scattered words she said "My son, my daughter . . . Zakariyya is a genius, from KSA. . . Fatima teacher, . . . children. . . a rocket. . . gifts. . .".
Zakariyya, a father of five, has just return from Saudi Arabia to spend the summer vacation with his parents in Khanyounis. He worked as news editor at Saudi TV.
In the cemetery, the 16-year-old, Ahmed, the son of Zakariyya, was crying while people were laying his father to last rest.
"I have not imagined that we will become orphans during our summer vacation in Gaza, it is our destiny," he said while crying.
He added that his father has not come to Gaza three years ago and decided to come this summer to spend the summer vacation with his parents.
"My father missed Gaza so much, he brought a lot of gifts to grandfather, grandmother, brothers, sisters and cousins," Ahmed said.
Ahmed revealed that his family decided not to go back to Saudi Arabia as they lost their future there, "our life has completely changed, I do not know what I will do."
Fatima's husband, Nidhal Wahba, said that his wife was waiting for him to join her at the lunch.
"I was to finish my work and join them, she phoned me to make sure that I will come as early as possible," he said during the funeral today.
The eyes of Wahba were filled with tears when he recalled his wife who preferred, three days ago, to delay his gift on her birthday because of the economic crisis in Gaza.
"I do not know how to continue my life without her. Her two children also have become orphans, all this happened because the Israelis missed the target! It's unbelievable," he said ironically.
Fatima was visiting her family in Gaza city four days ago as her brother Abdelrahman was killed two weeks ago during an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.
Abdelqader, the owner of the house and the brother of Zakariyya, said that the family members and guests were having their lunch together, "we were so happy and some children were playing when the rocket hit the house."
He said that Fatima was talking and laughing with her sister, screaming of children and lots of talks was a round. Suddenly, everything was turned upside down.
The rocket hit the house; he did not see anything because of dust when people carried him to hospital.
"It is unendurable life, we were waiting for this nice moment three years ago, but the Israelis turned it into bloody moments, we can not bear such life," Abdelqader said.
S.A.S. (20:20 P) (17:20 GMT)
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| Earth, a planet hungry for peace |
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| The Israeli Land-Grab Apartheid Wall built inside the Palestinian territories, here separating Abu Dis from occupied East Jerusalem. (IPC, 7/4/04). | ||
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| The Israeli apartheid (security) wall around Palestinian population centers in the West Bank, like a Python. (Alquds,10/25/03). |