Region | Palestinian Territories
Toddler latest victim of Israeli aggression
The image of a dead Palestinian toddler, Khalid Wahbeh, wrapped in a blue cloth became a symbol of Israeli military aggression in Gaza.
- By Khalil Assali, Gulf News Report
- Published: 23:33 May 3, 2009
Occupied Jerusalem: The image of a dead Palestinian toddler, Khalid Wahbeh, wrapped in a blue cloth became a symbol of Israeli military aggression in Gaza.
The 15-month-old boy, who was buried yesterday in Gaza, was the latest vicim of a family caught in an Israeli attack late last month.
Many members of the family were killed when an Israeli missile hit the house where the boy's family gathered to celebrate the return of his uncle, Zakarya Ahmad, from Saudi Arabia after working there for five years as a journalist.
The lunch banquet held at Khan Younis to honour Zakarya Ahmad turned into a nightmare. Zakarya, 47, and his pregnant sister, 25, mother of Khalid Wahbeh, were killed on the spot.
Speaking to Gulf News over the phone, Khalid's father, Nidal Wahbeh, said: "Khalid is my only son. I have 11 daughters from two wives, and I always wanted a son to carry my name. Thank God for everything. He gives and he takes."
Um Ebrahim, 35, one of Ahmad's relatives, with tears welling in his eyes, said: "We were celebrating Zakariya's return from Saudi Arabia. Suddenly we heard a great explosion that rocked the house and were surrounded by a frightening silence.
"I came around to the voices of screaming women and children, crying with pain.
The house turned into a pool of blood and severed body parts, and I started screaming like crazy, calling for help while trying to put Zakarya's body parts together. I have waited so long to hug him, and suddenly I was holding his dead body.
"Why? We were not launching missiles. We were not targeting tanks. We were just celebrating our son's return."
Avi Hai Adari, Israeli military spokesman, yesterday said he was sorry that civilians were killed in Khan Younis, but "investigations revealed that the army did not launch any missiles in the area, and that it was a Palestinian missile that hit Zakarya's house."
This claim failed to convince local and international media. It even failed to convince the Israeli media.
The storm that followed publication of the gory pictures barely settled when the press published pictures of children's bodies strewn in a football field. The children were hit by an Israeli missile while playing.
Once again, children were targeted.
Roman, Unicef Special Representative in the Palestinian territories, said: "The ongoing fighting in Gaza causes the children long-term psychological damage. Our psychological guidance teams are pointing out a huge increase in breathing disorders and fatigue cases among children."
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