News of a tragic airstrike in Gaza that killed six members of the same family has shocked the international community. Former U.S. Representative from Michigan Justin Amash, himself of Lebanese and Palestinian descent, mourned the loss in a post on social media, blaming the Israeli airstrike for the deaths of his family members.
The attack occurred at the Al-Ata Mosque in Deir al-Balah, a city in the central Gaza Strip, at the start of a three-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The mosque, along with several other buildings throughout the area, was severely damaged in the Israeli airstrike.
The victims of the attack include one of Amash’s aunts and several of his cousins, who were attending a church service at the mosque at the time of the airstrike. The cousins had come from the nearby West Bank town of Jericho to attend the service, a message that Amash says “drives home the senselessness of war”.
In a statement, Amash stated that “my family and I are heartbroken over this senseless tragedy. The loss of loved ones under these conditions is unbearable. We must call for an end to the violence in the Middle East, for the sake of all people in the region.”
The attack has prompted many to call for greater international action to put an end to the conflict in the region, and for greater accountability for those responsible for the violence. In the meantime, relatives of the victims, including Amash, are mourning the loss of their loved ones.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Israel has announced that it will launch another airstrike if Hamas retaliates again, raising fears of an even more devastating escalation in tensions.
The heartbreaking story of Justin Amash’s family members who were tragically killed echoes the pain of countless other lives that have been lost in the Middle East conflict. Amash’s response serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.