December 11, 2018: Ahmad Yasser Sabri Abu ‘Aabed, 4, died from serious wounds he suffered when Israeli soldiers shot him in the eye with an expanding bullet, on Friday, December 7, 2018, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the soldiers shot the child with expanding bullets, one in his eye, and one in his abdomen, causing very serious wounds. Ahmad was rushed to a hospital in Khan Younis, underwent a surgery, and remained in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit, until he succumbed to his wounds.
According to a report by Defense for Children International, Ahmad was in his father’s arms around 3:30 p.m. when he was struck by shrapnel as Israeli forces opened fire on protesters in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on December 7. Ahmad sustained injuries to his head, chest and abdomen which caused his death.
“Suddenly, I heard the sound of a gunshot fired by one of the soldiers and I heard the sound of something exploding in front of me,” said the child’s father. “At this moment, Ahmad screamed. I looked at Ahmad and found blood coming down from his right eye and chest and his shirt was torn.”
Ahmad was treated at the European hospital in Khan Younis, according to the child’s family. An MRI revealed that shrapnel had entered Ahmad’s brain through his eye. He was held in the intensive care unit until Tuesday, when doctors pronounced him dead.
On Monday, the soldiers shot eleven Palestinians, including one medic, during the 19th weekly 19th protest against the Israeli naval blockade on the coastal Strip.
On the day of Ahmad’s serious injury, Friday December 7, 2018, the 37th Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege on Gaza, the soldiers shot 72 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and 2 paramedics.
Ahmad was from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC