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| Mustafa Abu Jarad, in hospital shortly before he died (photo: Desde Palestina) |
Beit Lahiya, Gaza Strip
Monday 14th January
Just three days after the fatal shooting of Anwar Al-Malouk near
Jabalia, the Israeli military has murdered another Palestinian
civilian despite a supposed ceasefire being in place. Mustafa Abu
Jarad, 20, was one of a group of farm labourers working on a plot of
land in an area north of Beit Lahiya in the very north of the Gaza
Strip, over a kilometre away from the border fence.
From the border, the Israeli army began firing heavily in their
direction, causing them to flee the area. Later, when the situation
had calmed, they returned to work believing it was safe to do so.
Suddenly a single shot targeted Mustafa directly in the forehead.
Witnesses say it was sniper fire from an Israeli military watchtower
on the border. With this level of pinpoint accuaracy, the Israeli
sniper must have had a clear enough view of Mustafa to be able to
identify him as a civilian farmer.
The bullet went straight through Mustafa's head leaving a massive exit
wound. He was rushed to Kamal Adwan Hospital in the north of the Gaza
Strip but was quickly transferred to Al Shifa, Gaza's main hospital,
due to the severity of his injuries. He arrived in a critical
condition and underwent emergency surgery to remove bone fragments
from the remaining part of his brain and to relieve internal bleeding.
Unfortunately, he had sustained a massive brain trauma and his
prognonis was bleak. He died in the ICU a few hours after the
operation as his family anxiously waited for news.
Mustafa's older brother, Loay, was killed two and a half months ago
whilst active with the Palestinian resistance. Mustafa had no
involvement with the resistance himself. He was trying to earn a
little extra income for his family whilst he completed his studies.
The latest attacks increase the number of Palestinian casualties since
the ceasefire announcement to more than 30, according to officials in
Gaza.
To further flout the ceasefire agreement, several Israeli military
vehicles were reported to have breached the border with Gaza this
morning in an agricultural area east of Khan Younis in the south of
the Gaza Strip (Ma'an News Agency). After continual violations of the
November ceasefire, committed by the Israeli military against
Palestinian civilians, the question remains:
When will the international community take notice - and furthermore
take action - to prevent an escalation of bloodshed?
Photo courtesy of Desde Palestina:
http://desde-palestina.blogspot.com/2013/01/mustafa-abu-jarad-was-murdered-today-by.html?m=1
