A 38-year-old widow and mother of five from Jabalya Refugee Camp recounted the bombing of her uncle's house in which she lost her husband, her two-year-old son, her sister, and other family members
I have five children: Sama, 16, Fatimah, 13, Muhammad, 17, Yusef, 10, and Ahmad, 2, who was killed when a house we were sheltering in was bombed on 11 October 2023. I also lost my husband in the bombing.
On 8 October 2023, northern Gaza was being heavily bombed and I decided, along with my sisters Alaa and Bushra, to move with our families to the house of my maternal uncle, ‘Atef al-Kurd, in Deir al-Balah. We moved there in previous wars.
On 11 October, we were at my uncle's house. Around 10:30 A.M., I was sitting with Bushra, Alaa and our children in a room when suddenly, we found ourselves under a pile of rubble. I didn't even hear the missile. Pieces of the building fell on us and covered us, leaving only an opening, and there was fire and smoke. I heard voices and started shouting for help. My son Yusef had a curtain wrapped around his neck. He started choking, and I helped him get it off so he could breathe. Karim, Alaa's son, was next to me. His head was covered in blood and he was unconscious. I tried to wake him up. My phone was on me, so I called my mother-in-law and told her the house had been bombed and that we were under the rubble. I wasn’t injured, thank God. I called out to Bushra but didn’t hear her voice. I heard my son Yusef’s voice for a moment, and then I didn’t hear him anymore. I started trying to get the rubble off us.
Young men who arrived rescued Yusef, Alaa (who was injured in the leg) and me. They took me to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and ran some tests to make sure I was okay, even though I told them I was fine and in good condition.
I asked about my children and was told they were fine. I called my uncle's house and found out that Sama, Fatimah and Yusef were there and safe, and that Muhammad was injured and had second-degree burns. I stayed at the hospital and looked for my husband, Taysir, and my youngest son, Ahmad. I found Taysir in intensive care. I went back to my uncle's house and found out they hadn’t rescued Ahmad yet because they didn’t have the proper tools and equipment. The rescuers told me to leave and said they would update me when they had any news.
At midnight, they informed me Ahmad was dead. In the morning, I went to the hospital to see the body and say goodbye. That’s when I learned Taysir was dead, too. I said goodbye to them with tears at the hospital, and they were taken to be buried. Later, I was told that Taysir arrived at the hospital in relatively good condition, on his feet, but had internal organ injuries, mainly in the lung. He felt unwell and was immediately taken him to intensive care, and his condition deteriorated.
My sister Bushra was killed along with her baby daughter Julia. I identified Bushra and Julia’s bodies at the hospital. Her husband Fawzi was seriously injured and later died.
Now that they’re dead, I have no desire to live. I had a family, a supportive husband. We lost so much. May we find comfort in God.
My son Muhammad, 17, was kept for about a month at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and then transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. He received a referral for treatment in Egypt, traveled there, and had skin grafts on his legs, but his condition didnt improve much. He then received a referral for treatment in Tunisia. Now he’s there, having laser treatments, and his condition is improving. It’s very hard for me that he’s so far away, but I couldn’t go with him and leave behind my other children and my sister Alaa, who also needs help.
In March, I managed to get us permits to leave for Egypt. I had to get us out of there. I lost my husband and my baby, and I’m not willing to lose anyone else from my family. Enough with the pain. We’ve lost so many family members.
Now I;m in Egypt with my children, my sister Alaa, and Bushra's children Sa’id, Juri and Rafif, who arrived later on their own – their grandfather drove them to Rafah Crossing, and from there, they traveled with acquaintances to Cairo and we picked them up. We were three sisters married to three brothers. We have family in Jordan, but they won’t let us in. Here in Egypt we have no way to earn a living. Now I’m taking care of my children, Bushra's children, and Alaa's son – eight children in total – as well as Alaa.
Bushra's children, who lost both their parents, are in bad shape mentally. Two days ago it was Juri's birthday. I asked her what she wanted for a present, and she said she wanted her mother and father. They’re orphans now, and nothing in the world can make up for that.
* Testimony given over the phone to B'Tselem field researcher Olfat al-Kurd on 8 May 2024
When the home of ‘Atef al-Kurd, the sisters’ uncle, was bombed in Deir al-Balah, 18 family members were killed:
Fatimah Ahmad al-Mabhuh al-Kurd, 65, her children, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren;
Mahmoud ‘Atef al-Kurd, 36, and his son;
Yazan Mahmoud al-Kurd, 13
Muhammad Atef al-Kurd, 38, and his son;
Yusef Muhammad al-Kurd, 12
Rahimah Sa’di Shahin-al-Kurd, 26, and her children;
Yazid Ahmad al-Kurd, 3
Zeid Ahmad al-Kurd, 7
Manar ‘Atef al-Kurd, 22
Taysir Sai’d al-Kurd, 40, and his son;
Ahmad Taysir Sa’id al-Kurd, 2
Fawzi Sa’id al-Kurd, 34, and his wife;
Bushra Rif’at al-Kurd, 32, and their daughter;
Julia Fawzi al-Kurd, 1.5
‘Abd a-Rahman Yaser Sa’id al-Kurd, 14 (the son of Walaa)
Mustafa Fawzi al-Kurd, 60, and his wife;
Intisar ‘Aziz al-Kurd, 56
Mahmoud ‘Abd al-Kader al-Kurd, 60, brother-in-law of Fatimah al-Mabhuh
Alaa Rif’at al-Kurd's testimony, Amal's sister