15-month-old baby, critically injured in an Israeli air strike, dies of his wounds

Julu 11, 2006

Ma'am News Agency


Khan Younis- Ma'an – Fifteen month old Khalid Wahbah, who was critically injured in an Israeli air strike on Khan Younis on 21 June, died on Monday in the Israeli hospital where he was receiving treatment.
The infant's body was transferred to his family in Khan Younis on Monday and he will be buried next to his uncle, Zakaria Ahmad, and his aunt, Fatima, who were also killed in the same massacre.

The Israeli air strike targeted the house of the Ahmad family while they were celebrating Zakaria's return from Saudi Arabia after five years of absence.

Um Ibrahim, one of the relatives, said, "We were sitting, celebrating the return of Zakaria from Saudi Arabia. We were all happy and while we were having the meal, we heard an explosion which shocked the house, and suddenly an atmosphere of silence prevailed. Then, I heard only screams of children and women. I was injured but I did not realise my injuries."

Um Ibrahim then stopped talking to remember the killed people and began to cry again. She then spoke, asking, "What is our fault? What did we do? Why this ugly killing? Why turning our happiness into sadness?"

The explosion, which damaged the house and killed the three family members, was caused by an Israeli rocket launched by Israeli fighter jets.

Zakaria Ahmed, 47, had worked as a journalist for a Saudi television station. His pregnant sister, Fatima, was also killed and 15 month-old Khalid was critically injured.

Nidal Wahbah, Khalid's father, said sadly, "He was my only son, he was the only boy. I have another 11 girls from my two wives".