In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the relentless Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and Gaza has claimed the lives of scores of innocent civilians, including five Lebanese siblings, three of whom were deaf and mute. Palestinian journalist siblings also perished together with their father when Israeli warplanes targeted a school sheltering the displaced in Gaza City.
Disabled Siblings Among Lebanese Casualties
The southern Lebanese port city of Tyre was rocked by Israeli strikes late Friday, with at least seven residents losing their lives. Among the victims were Ghazwa Dabouk and her siblings – Elissar, Rabab, Fidaa, and Ali. Tragically, Elissar, Rabab, and Fidaa were deaf and mute, while Ali had autism.
A close friend of the family, visibly shaken, recounted the devastating loss: “They were innocent souls, unable to hear the warnings or cry for help. In a world already challenging for them, they found solace in each other’s company. Now, all five siblings are gone in an instant, their lives cut short by this senseless violence.”
Rising Death Toll and Accusations
The Israeli military claimed it had struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Tyre and Baalbek, including weapons stores and “operational apartments.” However, the Lebanese health ministry reported that the strikes had claimed the lives of at least 40 people, including two children and seven medics affiliated with rescue groups.
“Israel has previously threatened to target medics who treat Hezbollah members and killed scores of health workers across Lebanon, including in attacks on medical centers. Rights experts say affiliations to groups such as Hezbollah do not affect their protected status.”
– Legal Analyst
Palestinian Journalists Killed in Gaza School Bombing
In Gaza, the situation remains dire as Israel continues its relentless assault. Palestinian siblings Ahmad and Zahra Abu Sakhil, both journalists, were killed along with their father Muhammad and three others when Israeli warplanes bombed a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza City.
The Gaza media office reported that their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed by Israeli fire to a staggering 188 since the escalation began in October 2023. Just a day earlier, local radio journalist Khaled Abu Zir was also killed in an attack.
Innocent Lives Lost and Looming Humanitarian Crisis
As the conflict rages on, the civilian death toll continues to rise at an alarming rate. Reports indicate that Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of at least 43,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with thousands more believed to be buried under the rubble and tens of thousands wounded.
A recent UN report highlighted the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, revealing that nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza have been women and children. The already devastated territory faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe, with food experts warning of impending famine, particularly in the besieged northern region.
“The international community must urgently intervene to protect civilians and hold those responsible for these atrocities accountable. The targeting of journalists, medics, and civilians is a grave violation of international law and cannot be tolerated.”
– Human Rights Advocate
As the world watches in horror, the question remains: how many more innocent lives will be lost before the international community takes decisive action to end this senseless cycle of violence and bring those responsible to justice?
