DaysofPal— A Palestinian family has recounted the Israeli killing of a young child while he was with his father in the Wadi al-Salqa area in central Gaza, in a deadly Israeli ambush targeting civilians.
According to family members and witnesses, the incident took place on Sunday afternoon when several farmers, including members of the Abu al-Ajin family, went to their agricultural land located west of what is known locally as the yellow line, which is an area described as outside direct Israeli control near the Wadi al-Salqa bridge.
Najoud Abu Gharaba, whose father was among those present and is now reported missing, said the group was surprised by the presence of Israeli special forces inside a nearby building.
She stated that the forces opened heavy fire on the civilians.
She said that a young child, identified as Ryan, was shot and killed, while his father, Baha Jaber Abu al-Ajin, was wounded in the leg.
Several others at the scene were also injured and subsequently detained.
According to the family, Israeli forces later released the wounded father along with the body of his child early Monday morning, while the fate of Najoud’s father, Khaled Hassan Abu Gharaba, remains unknown.
The family said they have contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross seeking information but have not yet received any updates regarding his whereabouts or condition.
A relative of the child described the incident as a deliberate act, questioning what threat could have been posed by a child under the age of three.
The incident has left the family in shock, as the father was released only to bury his child hours after detention.
Families involved have called on human rights organizations to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and to clarify the fate of the missing individual.
Local accounts also stated that Israeli forces repeatedly entered agricultural areas west of the yellow line, targeting farmers as part of the ongoing effort to expand a buffer zone along the eastern and central parts of the Gaza Strip.
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