Talal holds the photos of two of his grandchildren (Abdel Karim and Karam) who were killed during the attack that took place at around 3am on 20 July 2014, on the house of his brother, Jalal, located in the Al Sheja'iya neighbourhood, east Gaza City
05-08-2015 06:29
Talal holds the photos of two of his grandchildren (Abdel Karim and Karam) who were killed during the attack that took place at around 3am on 20 July 2014, on the house of his brother, Jalal, located in the Al Sheja'iya neighbourhood, east Gaza City
In total, 11 members of the Al Helou family were killed by the Israeli airstrike, including four children. The attack occurred 3 hours after midnight. The night of 20 July saw the heaviest shelling and bombing in the Al Sheja'iya neighbourhood. Most people fled their homes under shelling
Photos of the entire immediate family of Ahmed Jehad Al Helou, who were killed: Ahmed, his wife and their three children.
"My neighbours told us that Asma' survived and was shouting for help. We had to leave and could not have done anything. (…) We called the Civil Defence (fire brigade) and it them took two hours to take her out. She was still alive and was talking about Ahmed, who was also alive. All the bodies were in pieces except him; his body was intact," recalls Talal Mahmoud Al Helou
Talal fled with his family after the attack on his brother's home, which is located just opposite his home. “We preferred to take the risk of losing one or two while fleeing in the streets than losing the whole family at home,” says Talal, who lost, among other family members, his daughter Hedaya, in the Israeli attack. In 2002, his 14-year-old son, Ez Ad-Din, was also killed by Israeli soldiers
A UN marking is seen on the home of Jehad Al Helou which was struck earlier
Al Helou family, Sheja'iya, Gaza City
At approximately 3:00 am on 20 July 2014, Israeli warplanes attacked the house of Jalal Al Helou, located in the Sheja'iya neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City, killing 11 people.
Jehad Al Helou and his immediate family had moved to the home of Jalal on 19 July 2014. Jalal already left Sheja'iya neighbourhood with his immediate family earlier the same day. The night of the 20 July saw the heaviest Israeli shelling and bombing in the Sheja'iya neighbourhood, and most of its residents fled under attack.
Asma' Al Helou was injured and admitted to Al Shifa Hospital where she died from her injuries on 21 July 2014. The entire immediate family of Ahmed Jehad Al Helou was killed (Ahmed, his wife and their three children). Most bodies could only be recovered after one week, on 27 July 2014.
Al Mezan identified the people killed as follows: