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Parents and siblings of UK woman killed in Gaza attack | Parents and siblings of UK woman killed in Gaza attack |
(14 days later) | |
Fatma Aljaja's parents Noura Abu Hassira (left) and Ghanem Taufeek were killed when rockets struck their apartment in Gaza City | Fatma Aljaja's parents Noura Abu Hassira (left) and Ghanem Taufeek were killed when rockets struck their apartment in Gaza City |
Twelve relatives of a UK woman, including her parents and four siblings, have been killed in an Israeli rocket attack in Gaza. | Twelve relatives of a UK woman, including her parents and four siblings, have been killed in an Israeli rocket attack in Gaza. |
Fatma Aljaja's nephew and nieces, brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law also died when rockets hit their apartment in Gaza City. | Fatma Aljaja's nephew and nieces, brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law also died when rockets hit their apartment in Gaza City. |
Ms Aljaja, who left Gaza 10 years ago and now lives in Staffordshire, said the pain of losing them was "like something you can't describe". | Ms Aljaja, who left Gaza 10 years ago and now lives in Staffordshire, said the pain of losing them was "like something you can't describe". |
Rockets struck the home on 8 November. | Rockets struck the home on 8 November. |
Her mother Noura Abu Hassira, 65, and father Ghanem Taufeek, 75, had decided not to evacuate south from their apartment, about a quarter of a mile from the Al-Shifa Hospital, because they felt there was no safe passage, she said. | Her mother Noura Abu Hassira, 65, and father Ghanem Taufeek, 75, had decided not to evacuate south from their apartment, about a quarter of a mile from the Al-Shifa Hospital, because they felt there was no safe passage, she said. |
Thousands have been trapped at Gaza's largest hospital by nearby battles between Israeli forces and Hamas miltants. | Thousands have been trapped at Gaza's largest hospital by nearby battles between Israeli forces and Hamas miltants. |
Israel says Hamas fighters have operated in tunnels underneath the hospital, a claim denied by the group, which the UK government considers a terrorist organisation. | Israel says Hamas fighters have operated in tunnels underneath the hospital, a claim denied by the group, which the UK government considers a terrorist organisation. |
Ms Aljaja's nieces were killed when rockets hit apartments | Ms Aljaja's nieces were killed when rockets hit apartments |
Fatma Aljaja lives with her husband Mohammed Sheraz in Staffordshire | Fatma Aljaja lives with her husband Mohammed Sheraz in Staffordshire |
Gaza-born Ms Aljaja lives with her husband Mohammed Sheraz in Burton-upon-Trent. | Gaza-born Ms Aljaja lives with her husband Mohammed Sheraz in Burton-upon-Trent. |
They learnt of their deaths when a relative called them. | They learnt of their deaths when a relative called them. |
"It was eight o'clock on a Monday morning [and you] don't expect that phone call," said Mr Sheraz. | "It was eight o'clock on a Monday morning [and you] don't expect that phone call," said Mr Sheraz. |
"She was shaking next to me asking 'who? who?' | "She was shaking next to me asking 'who? who?' |
"I think it took me 30 seconds to a minute to let it out but obviously Fatma was completely in bits at that stage." | "I think it took me 30 seconds to a minute to let it out but obviously Fatma was completely in bits at that stage." |
The couple heard family members in Gaza spent the best part of three days digging the bodies out by hand. | The couple heard family members in Gaza spent the best part of three days digging the bodies out by hand. |
"We are trying to stay strong but the burn is inside. You feel the burn inside you. I don't think this will go," Ms Aljaja said. | "We are trying to stay strong but the burn is inside. You feel the burn inside you. I don't think this will go," Ms Aljaja said. |
"Nobody will feel it until you lose your whole family in one second. | "Nobody will feel it until you lose your whole family in one second. |
"It's something you can't describe. Some kind of pain you can't describe." | "It's something you can't describe. Some kind of pain you can't describe." |
Fatma Aljaja said her parents, four siblings, nephew and nieces had all been killed | Fatma Aljaja said her parents, four siblings, nephew and nieces had all been killed |
She said she believed the apartment had been targeted deliberately because of her brother Mohammed's aid and journalism work. | She said she believed the apartment had been targeted deliberately because of her brother Mohammed's aid and journalism work. |
The only member of the family to survive the rocket strikes was a niece, three-year-old Hannah, who was pulled from the rubble alive. | The only member of the family to survive the rocket strikes was a niece, three-year-old Hannah, who was pulled from the rubble alive. |
She was treated for burns and other injuries but it is not clear what has happened to her since. | She was treated for burns and other injuries but it is not clear what has happened to her since. |
Mr Sheraz said they had heard she was being cared for by her grandparents somewhere in the north of Gaza. | Mr Sheraz said they had heard she was being cared for by her grandparents somewhere in the north of Gaza. |
"Miraculously she survived that carnage⦠[but] she has lost everything," he said. | "Miraculously she survived that carnage⦠[but] she has lost everything," he said. |
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