May 4, 2019: Falasteen Saleh Abu Arar, 37, was killed along with her 14-month old baby Saba Mahmoud Abu Arar when their home was targeted by an Israeli missile. Falasteen was six months pregnant.
The missile was fired by Israeli forces who carried out a series of bombings and air strikes targeting the Gaza Strip throughout the day. A total of four civilians were killed, and more than 30 civilians wounded.
Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, reported that Falasteen suffered very serious wounds to the head and other parts of her body, and died from her wounds.
Dr. al-Qedra added that the soldiers also moderately injured another daughter of the slain pregnant mother.
The Israeli military claimed in a statement that they blame Hamas for the deaths of the mother and child, claiming an errant rocket was to blame, but eyewitnesses contradicted that claim, saying that the mother and child were killed by an Israeli missile.
In another missile fired on the same morning, the Israeli soldiers killed another Palestinian, identified as Khaled Mohammad Abu Qleiq, 25. His death came as the army fired several missiles into areas in Beit Lahia, in northern Gaza.
The soldiers also fired many missiles at homes in the neighborhoods of the Sheja’eyya, Tuffah and Zeitoun, in Gaza city, causing many injuries and serious property damage.
At least thirty Palestinians have been injured in the ongoing Israeli bombardments, that caused damage to several homes in the Gaza Strip, including two residential buildings west of Gaza city.
Among the targeted buildings was “Abdullah al-Hourani Center for Studies and Documentation” which is run by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), in Gaza City.
The Center is located in a residential building which was targeted by several Israeli missiles, Saturday.
The Israeli bombardment also caused damage to several shops and stores, in addition to media agencies, including the Turkish Anadolu News Agency.
The Israeli bombings and air strikes were still ongoing at the time of this report, over several parts of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Armed resistance factions in Gaza said they retaliated in response to the Israeli escalation by firing shells into several Israeli areas, including Ofakim, Asqalan (Ashkelon), Be’er as-Sabe’ (Beersheba) and Keryat Gat.
Earlier Saturday, the soldiers killed one Palestinian, identified as Emad Mohammad Nosseir, 22, from Beit Hanoun, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
On Friday, the soldiers killed two Palestinians during the Great Return March processions, and later killed two members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
Besides killing the two Palestinians at the Great Return March, the soldiers also injured 82 Palestinian protesters, including 34 children, two journalists and three medics.
Falasteen was from Gaza City, in the central part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC