The ongoing conflict in Gaza has brought immense suffering to civilians, with the latest tragedy claiming the lives of newborn twins, Asser and Ayssel, along with their mother and grandmother. Their father, Mohammed Abu Al-Qumsan, had just collected their birth certificates when he received the devastating news of their deaths. He was left holding the laminated documents, weeping at the morgue where their bodies were brought.
Al-Qumsan recounted the horrifying phone call, stating that a tank shell had struck the apartment where his family was sheltering, a house they had been displaced to. He spoke of the unbearable pain of not being able to celebrate his children’s arrival, pointing to their new clothes, never worn, and a half-full pack of nappies.
The image of Asser and Ayssel, wrapped in white clothes and carried by their father, has become a chillingly familiar sight in Gaza. The Israeli land and air campaign has forced hundreds of thousands of people to constantly seek shelter, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.
The conflict has been ongoing for ten months, with devastating consequences. Air strikes, artillery shells, and severe shortages of medicine, food, and clean water have brought one of the world’s most densely populated places to its knees. The targeting of newborns like Asser and Ayssel has been condemned by medical professionals.
“Today, it was registered in history that the occupation army targets newborn children who are barely four days old, twins along with their mother and grandmother,” said Khalil al-Daqran, a hospital doctor in Gaza.
Israel maintains that it takes great care to avoid civilian casualties and accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields. The conflict began in October when Palestinian militant group Hamas, backed by Iran, launched a cross-border raid on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the capture of over 250 hostages.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes and attacks, causing widespread devastation and resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,000 people and injuries to over 92,000. This tragedy underscores the immense human cost of the ongoing conflict, with innocent lives lost and families torn apart.
