GAZA, (PIC)
On a difficult day in Gaza, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, many lives were lost due to Israeli military attacks. Some of the victims were well-known, their names widely reported in the media, while others were only remembered by their families, neighbors, and friends.
The most prominent figure among the martyrs that day was Ismail Haneyya, the leader of Hamas, who was assassinated in Iran. Two Al Jazeera journalists, Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi, were also killed when they were targeted by Israeli forces while reporting near the ruins of Haneyya’s home in the al-Shati refugee camp. The media also mentioned a third martyr, initially unidentified, who was later revealed to be the child, Khaled Sa’ed al-Shawa.
The day of the assassinations
That Wednesday was a sorrowful day for all Palestinians, particularly for the people of Gaza. The death of the esteemed national leader Ismail Haneyya in Tehran brought grief and anger across the Arab and Islamic world. But the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza bore the heaviest burden of sorrow, losing a beloved son who had grown up in its narrow streets and alleys.
On the morning of that day, people went about their routines, either seeking their livelihood or checking on loved ones. Meanwhile, this imagined conversation might have taken place between young Khaled al-Shawa and his mother:
Khaled: “Mom, I’m going out for a bit.”
Mother: “Where are you going, my dear? Don’t you hear the drone overhead? I’m worried about you. Please stay home.”
Khaled: “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m just taking some food to the old man next door. His son is injured, and he can’t go out. I’ll be quick, I promise.”
Mother: “Alright, my dear. May God protect you. Take care.”
According to his father, Khaled left their home to deliver food to their elderly neighbor. On his way back, as he rode his bicycle near Haneyya’s destroyed home, he was struck by shrapnel from a missile fired by Israeli forces targeting the vehicle carrying Al Jazeera journalists Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi. The missile may not have been aimed at Khaled, but a single shard was enough to shatter his dreams of a future he would never see and rob his mother of her only son, who was merely a passerby, posing no threat to anyone.
Who was the martyred boy Khaled al-Shawa?
Khaled was the third victim of the missile attack that destroyed the car carrying Al Jazeera journalists Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi, killing them as it burned. Khaled, who was on his bicycle with a backpack, had just completed his final act of kindness.
Khaled was the only son among four sisters, the apple of his parents’ eye, and a pillar of support for his family. He helped them with their needs, using his bicycle, which remained with him until his last moments.
Khaled’s name gained attention because his grieving mother refused to let him be identified as an “unknown martyr.” She insisted that her son, known to his family, friends, and neighbors, be recognized by his name. Thanks to a video in which his mother appeared, Khaled’s name became widely known.
In the video, his mother tearfully declares, “My son is not an unknown martyr. My son is not just a number. His name is Khaled Sa’ed al-Shawa.” She adds, with deep sorrow, “We are not unknown. We are known, and everyone must know the names of our martyrs.”
Many social media users shared the video, expressing their sympathy with the grieving mother and helping spread Khaled’s name as a tribute to his memory and in solidarity with his family.
The targeting of children
Khaled al-Shawa, who was 17 years old, falls under the category of children according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as anyone under the age of 18.
The Israeli occupation has deliberately targeted Palestinian children during its ongoing war on Gaza, now in its tenth month. Since the beginning of this Israeli offensive, 16,251 children have been martyred in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
The story of Khaled al-Shawa’s martyrdom underscores the brutality of the occupation and its blatant disregard for international agreements and conventions on children’s rights.
While the media has published the name of the martyr Khaled, thousands of others have died without their names being mentioned. But this does not mean they were merely numbers; they have become shining stars, illuminating the path of freedom and dignity for the steadfast Palestinian people.
