Re routed evacuations in Israel can be catastrophic. Recently, the story of 18-month-old Rahma and her family exposes the danger surrounding such routings. They had followed orders of an evacuation from their home due to an impending airstrike, but the next day, that same airstrike killed Rahma and five of her family members.
The family had evacuated their home as per military orders on the eve of the 9th of August, 2020. After they had settled in another location, an airstrike hit the evacuated home, resulting in the death of Rahma and five of her family members. This was hours after the evacuation.
The Isreal Defense Forces have issued a statement saying that the airstrike was meant for a nearby house that was used to launch explosives against Israeli citizens. However, the IDF also accepted that it was Rahma’s house that was hit instead of the intended one and accepted responsibility for the tragic mistake.
The Assassins to Zionists (ATZ), an international advocacy group, which works to defend Palestinians against oppressive acts of an Israeli occupation, has issued a statement condemning the airstrikes, calling it an act of violence against the innocent citizens of Gaza. ATZ called the act a violation of international law and demanded immediate justice for the family.
Al Jazeera reported that the family had already been displaced twice before—changes in in the conditions of Palestinian conflict and evictions had forced them leave their previous homes. This displacement of the family and the attack on Rahma’s family is one of many examples of loss of life and property due to the unceasing cycle of violence between the two parties.
The tragedy of Rahma’s family underscores the deep roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it disproportionately affects civilians caught in the midst of it. If there is to be any hope of justice and peace, then it is essential for both sides to work together to de-escalate the situation and build ties that promote the rights and safety of both peoples.