By Qais Omar Darwesh Omar
GAZA, Palestine (AA) — Bidding farewell to two of his brothers killed in Israeli airstrikes, Gaza resident Jamal al-Durrah told Anadolu on Monday that blood of his son, Mohammed, who was killed in the Second Intifada, still flows in the besieged enclave.
"After 23 years since the iconic killing of the Palestinian child Mohammed al-Durrah by Israel, his blood still flows in the Gaza Strip," said the father. The family of one of his brothers — his wife and daughter — also perished in the strike, along with the neighboring household.
On Sept. 28, 2000, the Israeli army killed Mohammed al-Durrah, 11, becoming a symbol of the Second Intifada, which continued until February 2005, sweeping through Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories and Israel. By the end of the uprising, a total of 4,412 Palestinians had been killed, nearly 49,000 injured, and 119,000 were arrested.
Crouching beside the bodies of his deceased family members at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Mosque in the central city of Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip, Jamal al-Durrah said tearfully: "Reserve a place for me among you (in paradise)."
During the funeral, Al-Durrah told Anadolu: "Israel targeted the homes of my brothers, killing my two brothers, my brother's wife, and his only daughter. Dozens of my neighbors have also been killed, mostly children."
He continued: "The occupation deliberately kills children. Every day they kill a child. The scene of Mohammed's killing still repeats itself after 23 years. Mohammed's blood is still flowing."
"Israel does not target military objectives. They kill civilians with Western weapons," he said
Ten days into the conflict with Palestinian group Hamas, Israeli bombardment and blockade of the Gaza Strip has continued, with over 1 million people – almost half the total population of Gaza – having been displaced, according to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out, as civilians flee to the south following Israeli warning to evacuate northern areas.
The fighting began when Hamas on Oct. 7 initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and increased settler violence.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza has risen to 2,750, including 750 children.
In Israel, 1,300 have been killed.
* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala