Deir el-Balah, Gaza – Early on Saturday morning, 24-year-old Sajida al-Kafarna was asleep with her family in a school classroom when a loud explosion woke them up. “We reassured each other that we were safe, but when I realized my father was missing because he had gone to pray, I started to panic,” Sajida recalled. Her family was one of the approximately 2,400 displaced Palestinians seeking shelter at al-Tabin School. Sajida’s father, Abdul Aziz al-Kafarna, 58, was inside the school’s small mosque when it was bombed by Israel. Sajida recounted the chaos and devastation as they searched for her father among the casualties. Eventually, after hours of searching, they found Abdul’s body buried under the debris. Sajida broke down in tears, grateful that her father’s body was not completely dismembered like many others.
Israel claimed that the attack on al-Tabin School targeted a “command and control center” for Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters, but Hamas denied these allegations. The attack resulted in over 100 Palestinian casualties, including women, children, and elderly individuals. The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have called for peace talks between Israel and Hamas as the violence continues.
Sajida refuted Israel’s claims that her father was a fighter, describing him as a dedicated hospital administrator and deputy mayor who was known for his kindness and generosity. She expressed her disbelief at the accusations and mourned the loss of her father, emphasizing the senseless violence that tore families apart. Similarly, Manar Eltif shared the story of her father, Mohammad Eltif, a retired school principal and sports enthusiast, who was also falsely accused of being a fighter by Israel. Manar remembered her father as a loving and caring individual who dedicated his life to helping others and promoting peace. The families of the victims continue to demand justice and accountability for the innocent lives lost in the conflict.