25-06-2015
Destroyed building of the Abu Suleiman family in Tel Al Sultan neighborhood west of Rafah. The house was attacked with two missiles on August 2, 2014, which resulted in the killing of 7 members of the Abu Suleiman family, and two other persons from the neighbours' houses.
- All the victims were women and children. Five children and one elderly woman were killed. The attack occurred on the second day of the implementation by the Israeli army of the so-called 'Hannibal directive'. Massive airstrikes and indiscriminate shelling took place in Rafah area during the weekend, killing over 200 people.
Ra'ed Mohammed Abu Suleiman (41) standing in the ruins of his house. He lost his daughter Rana (10) and six other members of his family who were killed in the attack, which occurred when there were more than 20 persons in the house.
A view taken from the neighbours' home where Meriam Hassan Ali Abu Jazar (87) was killed. She came to the house of her son just one day before the attack.
A poster honouring the memory of the seven members of the Abu Suleiman family killed in the attack
15-month-old Mahmoud survived. He was found behind a mat. According to Ra'ed, it took around four hours to find all the victims under the rubble of the house.
Photos of six of the seven victims from the Abu Suleiman family. First row Heba, left side down (clockwise): Ahmed (2); Lama (3); Mohammed (8); and Janna (3). Right side: Rana (10)
Photo of Mohammed (8). “We have to go on, we have no choice. We cannot complain, it does not help us,” says Ra'ed.
“I hope that one day the Israeli politicians will be held accountable for their crimes. (…) The world describes the Palestinians as terrorists. Are these children and women fighting Israel? Are these children terrorists?” asks Ra'ed.
At approximately 2:40 am on Saturday, 2 August 2014, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles targeting the house of the Abu Suleiman family in Tal Al Sultan neighborhood in west Rafah. As a result, nine people were killed, among them seven members from the Abu Suleiman family and 2 from the neighbours. Al Mezan identified their names as follows: