The room in Migdad Elzalaan’s home where his uncle was killed. (All Photos: Ruqaya Izzidien)
At 2am on Thursday 9 December the first of three Israeli airstrikes hit meters away from the home of Migdad Elzalaan in northern Gaza City. The attack killed Elzalaan’s uncle and injured 13 of his family members. Israeli authorities claim to have targeted a nearby military base, but the only reported casualties were civilian.
Elzalaan’s younger sister’s bed covered in rubble.
Elzalaan’s home- which the United Nations repaired after a nearby airstrike in the 2008-2009 war- was severely damaged and his uncle’s house was completely destroyed.
Shattered plates and glasses in a destroyed kitchen.
During the airstrikes, the 20-year-old went to his uncle’s home next door where he rescued his 6-month-old cousin from the rubble. After the final bomb, he unearthed his uncle from the rubble. Migdad explained, “[My uncle] told me, ‘Look after our family, look after the children. Look after them,’ and then he died, right in my arms.”
The possessions and toys of the family lay sprawled across the house, dishes from the last meal are still left in the sink and large cement bricks remain where they landed in the children’s beds.
Meanwhile, the question, “Is criticism of Israel or Zionism anti-semitic?”continues, reaching this absurd state in our neighbor, Canada at the moment: http://www.thecanadiancharger.com/page.php?id=5&a=1118#.TuJ5WuFLgqc.email
Tears in my eyes. Familial love and strength of Palestinians in the face of decades of attempted genocide continues to amaze and inspire.
The picture above is what the Apartheid israeli Knesset will look like soon enough.
As a Palestinian living under Israeli rule, here are your choices: throw a stone at an armored vehicle and get your face blown off or stay home quietly and sleep in your bed and get your house blown up on top of you.