The HeartBreaking Tale of a Gaza Family’s Tragedy
Imagine receiving the call that shatters your world, the one that tells you your family’s safe haven has been obliterated. This was the grim reality for Shaymma Alloh, whose family found themselves in the crosshairs of a missile strike in Gaza.
The Devastating Strike
On a fateful Saturday night, a missile struck the home where Shaymma’s family sought refuge. Among the four lives claimed by the strike was her brother, Hammam Alloh, a 36-year-old renowned physician. He had dedicated his life to treating Patients at Shifa Hospital, despite the encircling Israeli troops.
Hammam and his relatives had gathered at his in-laws’ home, close to the hospital, as they had no other place to go. The aftermath was harrowing, with one family member disemboweled and two others buried in the debris, Shaymma recounted.
A Family’s Loss
The casualties included Shaymma’s father and two in-laws. Speaking from the U.S., she shared the details of the tragedy with The Associated Press. For safety reasons, she withheld her exact location.
Her brother, a kidney specialist, was a familiar face on “Democracy Now!” during the recent Israel-Hamas conflict. While many fled the hospital, Hammam stayed, along with hundreds of patients and displaced individuals seeking sanctuary on the hospital grounds.
“You think I went to medical school and for my postgraduate degrees for a total of 14 years so I think only about my life and not my patients?” Hammam stated in his last interview on Oct. 31.
The Controversy of Warfare
Hammam’s final days and tragic end highlight the contentious narratives surrounding the war’s conduct. Israel maintains it targets Hamas fighters while sparing civilians, accusing Hamas of using civilians as shields. Conversely, Palestinians and rights groups accuse Israel of recklessly endangering civilian lives.
As Israel launched a ground invasion, it urged Palestinians to evacuate to southern Gaza. It also promised daily windows for civilians to flee the north along two main roads. Yet, tens of thousands remain in the north, with Israel continuing its strikes, often resulting in civilian casualties.
The Aftermath of the Attack
Shaymma’s extended family had congregated at her brother’s in-laws’ house, a mere 10-minute walk from Shifa Hospital, when the airstrike hit. With no southern relatives to host them, they had little choice but to stay put.
After a nerve-wracking wait, Shaymma learned of the attack from her sister in Qatar. Unable to reach her brother or father, she finally connected with her mother, Haifa, who was in shock and hiding nearby.
Convincing her mother to search for their male relatives, they discovered Hammam’s body amidst the rubble, along with two severely wounded men. The body of his father-in-law, with a torn-open stomach, lay next to him. Their father and another in-law were also among the deceased.
Shaymma, overwhelmed by grief, struggled to recount the exact details of each loss. The Israeli army, when asked for comment, stated it could only discuss specific strikes if provided with coordinates.
The Toll of War
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 11,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war’s onset, with the majority being women and minors. The ministry had to pause its count due to the difficulty in gathering information.
On the Israeli side, at least 1,200 people have perished, mostly civilians from Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault. Palestinian militants hold nearly 240 hostages, while the military reports over 40 soldiers killed in Gaza operations.
Seeking Aid Amidst Danger
Throughout Sunday, Shaymma reached out to aid groups, including the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, to secure medical treatment for the two wounded relatives. However, she was informed that no ambulances could enter the area due to the danger.
Then, on Monday, the Israeli army instructed the family to evacuate southward, waving a white flag. Despite her mother’s distress at leaving the deceased unburied and fear of being targeted, Shaymma convinced her to prioritize the living.
The female relatives and the injured in-laws departed, turning off their phones to conserve battery life. Shaymma later learned they had reached Shifa Hospital, having been warned against traveling south due to reports of the Israeli army shooting at fleeing Palestinians. While not entirely safe, Shaymma expressed relief that they were out of immediate danger.
In the face of unspeakable loss, the story of Shaymma Alloh and her family is a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict. It’s a narrative that underscores the urgent need for peace and the protection of innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
