Watan-The British newspaper “The Guardian” reported the story of a Palestinian child who survived a severe Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip before being killed by the fall of an aid box that was being air-dropped.
It all began when an Israeli airstrike destroyed the home of Zain’s family in November 2023, and at that time, the child was trapped under the rubble, according to the newspaper.
Zain was injured in the airstrike but survived, while 17 members of his extended family were killed. Later, the 13-year-old child faced a cruel fate in Gaza due to an aid box.
The newspaper stated that during an air-drop operation of aid, Zain was hit by one of the parcels as he rushed to try to get a box of canned beans, some rice, or flour.
The grandfather recounts his grandson’s story. Ali Al-Arour, Zain’s grandfather, said: “The first time, when the house was bombed, he came out from under the rubble with injuries to his head, hand, and leg. God saved him.”
نجا من القصف، ولكن.. ما حكاية الطفل الشهـ/ـيد زين عروق؟ #اطفال_غزة #غزة #زين_عروق #الميادين_Go pic.twitter.com/fT5HvpDKr5
— Almayadeen Go الميادين (@almayadeengo) April 18, 2024
The grandfather remembers standing next to a large pool of sewage water, how Zain used to swim in the pool to get a meal of air bubbles, and how he should have been going to school instead.
How did the child die? Mahmoud, the child’s father, said: “As the parachutes were falling, the aid box hit his head, and the people rushing towards the box pushed past him, not noticing the boy, as they were hungry too.”
He added: “His head split in two, and he suffered fractures in the pelvis, skull, and abdomen, and as people rushed, the pressure on him increased.” He was taken to the hospital but died last Sunday.
Deadly Airdrop
Threat Airdropping aid has become a highly dangerous threat to Palestinians. On March 5th, five people were killed, and 10 others were injured when an aid parachute failed to open and fell to the ground, causing injuries to a group of people.
On March 26th of the same month, at least 12 people drowned while trying to reach aid boxes that had fallen into the sea off the coast of Gaza.
هذا الطفل استشهد اليوم بسقوط مظلة مساعدات على رأسه.. اسمه زين وهو الناجي الوحيد من عائلته التي استشهدت بالقصف الإسرائيلي على منزلهم في غزة#GazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/m4u6uuJnZ2
— قتيبة ياسين (@k7ybnd99) April 14, 2024
Famine in Gaza, Especially in the North
Palestinians, especially in northern Gaza, are facing the threat of famine amid the ongoing Israeli war on the territory since October 7th of last year.