Gaza Father’s Grief: Israeli Airstrike Kills Son ‘Searching for a Sip’ at Water Point
Nuseirat, Gaza – Ten Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Sunday, July 13, when an Israeli airstrike hit a water distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp. Among the dead was Abdullah Mahmoud, a boy who had gone to fetch water for his family.
“He took our jerrycans to get water like he always did. A few minutes later, the bombs came,” said Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Ahmed, Abdullah’s father, speaking to the BBC.
A Tragic Scene in Gaza
Graphic footage from the scene showed destroyed buildings and the yellow jerrycans that children had brought. Bodies of men, women, and children were pulled from the rubble as wails pierced the dusty air.
The Al-Awda Hospital confirmed the deaths of 10 civilians, naming the child victims as:
- Abdullah Mahmoud
- Badr al-Din Qaraman
- Siraj Khaled Ibrahim
- Ibrahim Ashraf Abu Urayban
- Karam Ashraf al-Ghussein
- Lana Ashraf al-Ghussein
At least 16 others were injured, with some in critical condition.
Israel Acknowledges ‘Technical Error’
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the target was a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative, but admitted the bomb missed its target by dozens of meters.
“We regret any harm to uninvolved civilians. The incident is under review,” said the IDF.
But many in Gaza believe the strike was intentional.
“It’s as if they wanted to send a message: we won’t let you drink water,” said Abdullah’s grieving father.
UN Calls It a ‘Human-Made Drought Crisis’
The United Nations has warned that Gaza’s water crisis is worsening due to lack of fuel, parts, and continued military operations. Most residents receive far below the emergency minimum of 15 litres per person per day.
“This death is symbolic of the broader suffering,” said Sam Rose, Acting Director for UNRWA in Gaza. “Every single day, on average, a classroom full of children has been killed since this war began.”
UNICEF and Global Response
Catherine Russell, head of UNICEF, called the strike “horrific” and urged Israel to urgently review its rules of engagement and comply with international humanitarian law.
A UN Security Council session has been scheduled this week at the request of the UK to address the situation of children in Gaza.
But Israel’s ambassador, Danny Danon, blamed Hamas, claiming:
“Hamas is using children as human shields. The real pressure should be on them.”
Calls for the War to End
For families like Abdullah’s, these words offer little comfort.
“We are civilians, not soldiers. We don’t have weapons. We just want to live,” said Mahmoud.
“This war must end. The massacre must stop.”
