Tuesday, December 12, 2006

a boy named peace- the murder of my neighbor's nephews


I have three nephews in Germany. My dear friend and neighbor Mohamed had three nephews in Gaza.

Mohamed is a leftist Palestinian who does not have much love for the Gaza Strip. He dreams of leaving this place and making somewhere else his home. Mohamed is a law student and in charge of security at one of the universities in Gaza City, he is only 24 but already in charge. Last night I called him, his voice was quieter than usual and I asked him what was wrong. His three nephews had been killed.

Osama, Ahmed and Salam were murdered on their way to school.

Mohamed spent Sunday night with the boys and their family, Monday morning they were gone. When the boy's mother was informed of the attack she exclaimed, “all of my children are dead.” Somehow she knew.
She told Mohamed, “if only they could have left me one of them to hold at night.”

At 7 am on Monday morning 70 bullets riddled the car that was taking the children to school. All three died immediately. Najeeb, a tailor working near the incident said he came out of his shop, saw the bodies of the children being carried out of the car and left immediately. “One cannot handle such scenes.”


Since that time a tension has filled the air of Gaza City. Weapons are everywhere; the streets are packed with cars trying to get past burning tires in main intersection. The boys’ father, a former chief interrogator, has many enemies and twice attempts had been made on his life. Yet, never before have children been targeted this way.


This is one of my neighbors. I found him by the side of the road watching the funeral near our building. With dark smoke floating into the sky and an overwhelming noise from political rallies in the air I wondered what was going through his head.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

From: The Book Of Common Prayer -

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Anonymous said...

some are finally awakening to what's going on in gaza. check out this article about gaza that ran last year:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/007/9.44.html

stina said...

unbelievable. he is our neighbor.

Wheeler Sparks said...

Phil,

I got your site from Micah and Avery Hughes, close friends of mine. I am actually in Cairo right now for Christmas time - and I was hoping to meet your family at some point. Anyway, I am a songwriter/composer on a fellowship to study the world... I've written some music largely inspired by some of the information you've been publishing, and I would love to send it to you/give you rights to publish it on your website. Email me if you are at all interested. You can check out my site, www.wheelersparks.com, as well.

God bless you and your efforts to enlighten the world,
Wheeler Sparks

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