IM colleague and young child killed in bombing
This morning we received the terrible news that our colleague Ahmed Al-Ghoul has been killed in an Israeli bombing in Gaza. In the same attack, the child of our colleague Fatima Abu Al-Attas was also killed, along with a pregnant woman who was visiting the office. Several other colleagues were injured.
The bombing struck the courtyard outside the office of the AISHA Association for Woman and Child Protection (AISHA), one of IM’s long-standing partner organisations in Gaza. The incident is an unfathomable tragedy for our colleagues, while also a brutal reminder of the constant vulnerability faced by civilians in Gaza.
– This attack is a direct assault on the vital role that AISHA plays in serving and protecting people in Gaza. It once again underlines the urgent need to end the bombings of Gaza and its civilian population, says our colleague Dalia Hamayel.
Founded in 2009, AISHA is an independent Palestinian women’s organisation. It works to protect women and children from violence through psychological, social, legal and economic support, with a particular focus on Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip. A key part of its work is strengthening women’s economic empowerment and supporting marginalised groups.
Losing colleagues and their family members in this way is a loss beyond words. At the same time, the tragedy is a stark reminder of why the work of AISHA and IM is so crucial – to continue striving for human rights, safety and dignity in one of the most vulnerable places in the world.
– On behalf of IM and all our partners, we wish to express our deepest condolences and compassion to our colleagues at AISHA. Our hearts are with you in this immense tragedy, says Dalia Hamayel.
Photo: Mahmoud Abusalama (published with permission). The photo is from the actual scene of the bombing.
By: Malin Kihlström