A heartbreaking incident occurred when two Palestinian boys were shot dead during an Israeli military operation while collecting firewood to cook and keep their family warm amid the harsh winter season.
The two unfortunate boys were Mohammad Al Sawara, 14, and Sulaiman Al Sawara, 13, cousins who were shot dead on Saturday morning and taken to Al-Shifa Hospital.
A video shared on social media showed the father of one boy holding his lifeless body amid cries and despair.
The boys lived with their families in northern Gaza. Salman Al Sawara, their uncle, told CNN the cousins were very close and cheerful children. Through tears, he said they were full of life and happiness, simply trying to help their parents by gathering firewood to cook and keep the family warm during the brutal winter, but met a tragic fate instead.
However, the Israeli military told CNN that soldiers in the area had detected multiple terrorists crossing the Yellow Line, planting bombs, and approaching troops, thus being perceived as a direct threat.
An Israeli military source also claimed the victims were not children but provided no evidence to support this assertion.
Meanwhile, the victims’ family insisted the incident took place far from the Yellow Line, near a hospital entrance, condemning the military’s claims as lies and affirming the boys’ innocence, stating they were cold-bloodedly killed.
Reports note that in many parts of Gaza, the Yellow Line is not clearly marked, leaving residents uncertain about which areas are restricted.
This is not the first time children collecting firewood in Gaza have lost their lives. Last November, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi, aged 8 and 10, were killed by a drone strike while gathering firewood for their disabled father. The Israeli military admitted responsibility, calling the boys suspicious for crossing the Yellow Line and acting suspiciously.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that in the past 24 hours, at least three people have died in Israeli military operations, raising the death toll since the ceasefire agreement took effect in October to 484.
The cumulative death toll in Gaza since October 2023 stands at 71,657, with the ministry noting that this figure does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
. Source:CNN
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