PHOTOS: A Gaza funeral for 26 members of one family

In just one example of the ongoing Israeli tactic of targeting civilian homes, 26 members of the Abu Jame’ family, including 18 children, were killed in a single strike.

Photos by: Anne Paq and Basel Yazouri/Activestills.org
Text by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler

Mourners fill the mosque during the funeral for 24 members of the Abu Jamea family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, July 21, 2014. Reports indicate that 15 of the 24 killed were children of Abu Jamea family.
Mourners fill the mosque during the funeral for 26 members of the Abu Jame’ family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, July 21, 2014. Reports indicate that 15 of the 24 killed were children of Abu Jame’ family.

Israeli attacks in Gaza have now killed more than 566 Palestinians as the death toll exceeded 100 on both Sunday and Monday. The vast majority of those killed have been civilians. In just one example of the ongoing Israeli tactic of targeting civilian homes, 26 members of the Abu Jame’ family were killed in a single strike that also killed four others. Fifteen of those killed were children. An Associated Press report quoted a surviving family member:

“Doesn’t this indicate that Israel is ruthless?” said family member Sabri Abu Jame’. “Are we the liars? The evidence is here in the morgue refrigerators. The evidence is in the refrigerators.”

UPDATE: The Al-Mezan Center for Human Right organization reports:

At approximately 7:50 pm on Sunday, 20 July 2014, Israeli warplanes bombarded the house of Tawfiq Ahmad Abu Jame’. The three-story-house is inhabited by five families and is located in the Bani Suhaila town, east of Khan Younis district in the south of the Gaz Strip. The house, which was attacked without prior warning, was completely destroyed in the attack. Civil defense and ambulances crews rushed to the destroyed house to uncover the bodies buried under the rubble. It took them until the next day, Monday 21 July 2014, to uncover the victims. Medics found 26 bodies, 18 children and five women. Only three residents survived, and they sustained with varying injuries.

Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of the members of the Abu Jame' family out of the mosque. Certain bodies are carried in cardboard boxes as they were torn to pieces by the shelling.
Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of the members of the Abu Jame’ family out of the mosque. Certain bodies are carried in cardboard boxes as they were torn to pieces by the shelling.

 

A mourner carries the body of a child among 24 members of the Abu Jamea family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.
A mourner carries the body of a child among 26 members of the Abu Jame’ family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.

 

PHOTOS: A Gaza funeral for 26 members of one family
Local residents watch the funeral procession pass by their homes.

 

Palestinians shout with anger during the funeral.
Palestinians shout with anger during the funeral.

 

Bodies of members of the Abu Jamea family await burial.
Bodies of members of the Abu Jame’ family await burial.

 

Mourners bury the body of a child among 24 members of the Abu Jamea family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.
Mourners bury the body of a child among 26 members of the Abu Jame’ family, who were killed the previous day during an Israeli attack over the Bani Suhaila neighborhood of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.

Related:
The ‘terror tunnels’: Another Israeli self-fulfilling prophecy
‘Cast Lead was a joke compared to this’
Mourning death wherever it strikes
PHOTOS: Scenes of devastation from deadliest day in Gaza

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