“What affected us a lot psychologically is the fact that we were all
praying in the mosque when we were attacked. The mosque is a place where we go
when we need relief or when we are sad. We could never imagine them targeting
us while we are praying in the mosque.”

Brothers Motee’ (49) and Isma’il (53) as-Selawy in front of al-Maqadma mosque

On 3 January
2009, at around 17:20, during prayer time, an Israeli drone
fired a missile at the western entrance of al-Maqadma mosque in Jabaliya
refugee camp. In the attack, 15 worshipers were killed
and hundreds were injured.

“In every
prayer I remember what happened in the mosque that day. I remember where I saw
dismembered arms, legs and other body parts lying on the floor. I can still see
our relatives and friends scattered around the praying room”, says sheikh
Motee’ as-Selawy (49) as he puts his head in his hands. He was standing on the
sheikh’s podium delivering a speech to the worshipers as the missile hit the
entrance. “I had a direct line of sight to the door of the mosque and I saw
pieces of red shrapnel flying towards us through the doorway,” he recalls.

The extended
as-Selawy family, who live together in one big house opposite the mosque, lost
five of its members, all of whom were praying in the mosque when it was
attacked: Ahmad Isma’il (22), Mohammed Mousa Isma’il (12), Ibrahim Mousa Aissa
(44), Hani Mohammed (8), and ‘Omar Abdel Hafez as-Selawy (27).

Motee’s
brother, Ismai’l Mousa as-Selawy (53), lost his oldest son, Ahmad Isma’il, in
the attack. “I cry every day for my son. I have been suffering a lot over the
past three years. He was everything for our family. I visit the grave of my son
once or twice a week at least. I remember him in every moment, whether I am at
home, in the mosque or somewhere else”, says Isma’il.

“We miss our
killed relatives on all occasions. Our family lives in the same building and we
used to have a lot of fun together. Now we visit their graves”, adds Motee’.

Six members
of the as-Selawy family were injured in the attack and several of them continue
to physically suffer from shrapnel that remains embedded in their bodies. “I
still have shrapnel in my right wrist and it gives me problems until now.
Doctors in Gaza said a surgery to remove the shrapnel might to do more harm
than good. I feel constant tingling and my right hand is weak. I can’t carry
anything with it,” says Motee’. Another relative, Mohammed Khalil es-Selawy (14),
has shrapnel embedded in his head, which caused him to lose his hearing requiring
him to wear hearing aids. Brothers Abdel Karim Mohammad as-Selawy (12) and
Maher Mohammed as-Selawy (13) also have to learn how to live with shrapnel
embedded in their bodies; Abdel Karim has fragments in his shoulder while Maher
has pieces in his liver. Tamer Khalil (22) and Mousa Isma’il (23) as-Selawy
were also injured by shrapnel in their backs but doctors were able to remove
the metal parts from their bodies.

“What affected us a lot psychologically is the fact that we were all
praying in the mosque when we were attacked. The mosque is a place where we go
when we need relief or when we are sad. We could never imagine them targeting
us while we are praying in the mosque. That is a big crime,” says Motee’. The
grandfather of the family, Mousa ‘Issa
Mohammad es-Selawy (93), adds; “the mosque is the house of god. There are no
soldiers or weapons in the house. Everyone comes to pray there and enjoy being
there. How could they target it like that?”

Motee’
recalls, “Goldstone came to visit us in our house and went to the mosque with
us to investigate. I asked him; ‘where do you go when you feel sad and tired?’
He said, ‘I go to a place for prayer.’ I asked him, ‘what if you were bombed
there?’ Goldstone said; ‘I cannot imagine it. Such a crime should be punished.’
Now Goldstone has apologized for his report and we have not seen any results on
the ground.”

Since the
attack the as-Selawy is not only mourning the loss of its relatives. The family
members are also struggling financially as three of their deceased relatives
used to provide for a vital part of the family income. Ibrahim left behind 9
daughters, who still live at home. “Who will take care of them now?” asks
Motee’. ‘Omar Abdel Hafez had 4 daughters and one son. Until the day of his
death he earned the family income working as a cameraman with a local TV
channel. Ismai’il’s son, Ahmad, was the father of two children, Mohammed (5)
and Nisreen (3.5), and used to work as a tailor.

“My concerns
now are mainly focused on my grandchildren, Mohammed and Nisreen, and how I can
bring them up. I want to give them a future but I am too sick too work. My
health was badly affected by the attack and the loss of my son”, says Isma’il,
who suffers from severe migraine and stomach problems. “I try to take care of
them as much as possible, but I will not be here forever”.

The
as-Selawy’s try to deal with the financial difficulties by themselves as much
as possible. “We have our dignity but we are forced sometimes to receive aid
from people because we need to live” says Motee’. “Besides prosecution of the
perpetrators, we need financial compensation to deal with our current
situation.”

The family
has little expectations regarding the outcome of legal proceedings within the
Israeli legal system. “The Israelis are prolonging the court proceedings and we
don’t see any positive results. We may have hopes if our case is taken to an
international court,” says Motee’.

PCHR submitted a criminal complaint to the Israeli authorities on behalf
of the as-Selawy family on 2 July 2009. To-date, no response has been received.

————————————

The Narratives:

– 2 January
2009: Eyad al-Astal

– 1 January 2009: The Nasla Family

– 31 December 2008: The Abu
Areeda family

– 30 December 2008: The
Hamdan Family

–29 December 2008: Balousha Family

– 28 December 2008: The Abu Taima family

– 27 December 2008: The Al Ashi Family.