“I wish I could die with him,” Palestinian girl mourn her uncle's death in Israeli strike

A heart wrenching scene unfolded in Rafah on Tuesday as a young Palestinian girl broke into tears while mourning the death of her beloved uncle, killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza city. 

The girl, visibly distraught, cried out, “I love him so much. I can’t handle it, my heart is breaking,” as she was surrounded by grieving family members.

“I wish I could die with him. I want to hug him all day and sleep next to him,” she said. 

In the video, the distressed girl was seen kissing the forehead of her deceased uncle as his body lay enveloped in a coffin.

The attack, part of Israel’s ongoing military offensive, claimed the lives of at least 11 civilians and left several others injured.

According to the Palestinian health ministry, the airstrike targeted an area north of Rafah, further intensifying the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. 

As of Tuesday, Israel’s war on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 43,665 Palestinians since the conflict began on October 7. The scale of destruction and loss continues to mount, with families across Gaza grappling with the unimaginable pain of losing loved ones.

The devastating toll on civilian life has drawn international concern, as humanitarian organistions and human rights advocates call for an immediate ceasefire and greater efforts to protect innocent lives. 

Despite the ongoing violence, families like the one in Rafah remain caught in the heartbreaking reality of loss, grief, and uncertainty as the conflict shows no signs of abating.