An Israeli airstrike on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah resulted in the death of Shaban al-Dalu, 19, and his mother, Alaa, 38. Shaban was seen in a video reaching out from engulfing flames, while his brother Mohammed described the horrifying attack where he was pinned down by falling debris. Their father, Ahmed, managed to save their other siblings before the tent was consumed by fire. Shaban had been injured in a previous attack two weeks prior. His family had been displaced multiple times before. The video of Shaban’s final moments spread on social media, sparking outrage and calls for Israel to be held accountable for the casualties.
The Israel Defense Forces targeted the hospital, claiming it was being used as a Hamas “command and control” center, but there was no evidence provided to support this. Médecins Sans Frontières, supporting the hospital, called the attack “totally unacceptable.” Shaban, who was dedicated to memorizing the Quran and studying software engineering, had hoped to escape Gaza with his family but tragically died in the attack. The video of his death has led to international condemnation and calls for humanitarian intervention in the conflict. Israel has denied accusations of genocide, but pressure is mounting for an end to the offensive in Gaza, where many civilians have lost their lives in the conflict.
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