Tragic Incident in Deir-al-Balah
Ashraf El Attar, a nurse at Gaza’s European hospital, has reported the devastating loss of his wife and six children, including quadruplets, in an air strike that hit their family home in Deir-al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. El Attar described the incident as a sudden and catastrophic blow, leaving him with “nothing.”
Details of the Attack
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning. El Attar, who survived with minor injuries, recounted his experience to BBC Arabic’s Gaza Today podcast. According to him, he was preparing for work around 6 am when he heard an alarm and then lost consciousness. When he regained awareness, he found his home in ruins with all outer walls destroyed.
El Attar’s family, including his wife Hala Khattab—a teacher—and their six children, were killed instantly. The children included a 15-year-old boy, a one-year-old girl, and four ten-year-old quadruplets. El Attar desperately called out for his family, but it was too late.
Family’s Life Before the Attack
The night before the attack, El Attar’s family had been together, watching a soap opera in an attempt to escape the harsh realities of war. His mother, who is the grandmother to the six children, expressed her disbelief at why their home was targeted. She stated that the family had no affiliations with any organizations and that her son, Ashraf, worked dedicatedly as a nurse.
El Attar’s wife Hala had been working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees. The couple had faced significant challenges in raising their children, especially the quadruplets, who had severe health issues in their early months.
El Attar’s Reaction and Demand for Justice
El Attar expressed his heartbreak over the shattered dreams he had for his family, including aspirations for a better future with a larger home, a car, and mobile phones. He is now calling for justice, stating that he will seek recourse through “any international court” to hold those responsible accountable.
“I demand justice for my family,” he said, condemning what he described as a “grave injustice” committed by Israel.
Israeli and Hamas Responses
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not commented specifically on this particular strike but confirmed operations in Deir al-Balah over the weekend. They stated that their activities were aimed at “eliminating terrorists” and destroying “combat compounds” both above and below ground. The IDF maintains that it targets only members of armed groups and blames civilian casualties on Hamas, which they accuse of placing fighters, weapons, and tunnels in residential areas.
Hamas-led gunmen had killed approximately 1,200 people in an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, taking 251 hostages back to Gaza. This attack triggered a large-scale Israeli military offensive against Gaza, leading to the current conflict in which over 40,170 people have been reported killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
