In Gaza, everyday tasks can turn into life threatening moments. This heartbreaking truth became real for one family when two young brothers were killed while collecting firewood for their father. Their deaths have once again sparked urgent questions about civilian safety and the rising toll on children caught in the conflict.
A Routine Morning Turns Devastating
On Saturday morning, Tamer Abu Assi was preparing breakfast for his sons when he noticed he had run out of firewood. Because he is paralyzed and relies on a wheelchair, his boys often helped him with daily tasks. Fadi, 8, and Jumaa, 10, went out to gather wood near their shelter in Khan Younis.
They never returned.
Soon after, neighbors rushed to Abu Assi, telling him that two children had been hit in a strike nearby. In shock, he feared the worst and went to identify the victims. What he found confirmed a nightmare no parent should ever face.
The Strike and the Conflicting Accounts
According to the family, the boys were killed by an Israeli drone strike in Bani Suheila, an area close to a zone referred to as the “yellow line.”
The Israel Defense Forces later acknowledged carrying out the strike. In a statement, they described the boys as “two suspects” who had crossed the designated boundary, behaved suspiciously and approached military forces, which they said posed an immediate threat.
The IDF stated that the Israeli Air Force acted to “remove the threat.” However, the family maintains the brothers were simply gathering firewood.
A Deadly and Invisible Border
Although the “yellow line” marks a military boundary, there are few visible signs on the ground. This has caused repeated incidents where Palestinians, including civilians, unknowingly cross into dangerous zones.
Since the ceasefire took effect in October, many Palestinians have been killed along this invisible border. Israeli forces have frequently labeled those killed as individuals presenting imminent threats, while local families and rights groups dispute many of these claims.
The Rising Human Cost in Gaza
The deaths of Fadi and Jumaa add to a devastating and continually growing toll.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that more than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The number includes over 10,000 women and 20,000 children, with many more missing beneath rubble.
Even during the ceasefire period, more than 350 Palestinians have been killed in separate incidents.
Emergency crews continue to recover bodies from destroyed neighborhoods, and Civil Defense teams estimate that around 10,000 more victims may still be buried.
Human Rights Organizations Raise Alarms
A recent report from The Platform, a coalition of 13 Israeli human rights organizations, described 2025 as a year of “wider, deeper and unprecedented harm” to Palestinians in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank. It documented a “profound shift” in the conduct of the conflict and warned that severe violations had become routine.
A Father’s Last Memory
The day before the tragedy, Jumaa had asked his father to sing his favorite song for him. Abu Assi, feeling unwell, promised he would sing it after his medical checkup the next day, and even invited his son to come with him.
Remembering this moment, he broke down in tears, holding on to the final memory of his children.
Conclusion
The fatal strike that killed Fadi and Jumaa highlights the fragile and dangerous conditions under which families in Gaza continue to live. As debates over responsibility and military boundaries continue, the human impact remains undeniable. Families are left grieving, and the world is once again reminded of the cost children bear in times of conflict.
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