Statement Of Sen. Patrick Leahy
On
The Shurrab Family
Senate Floor
January 28, 2009
MR. LEAHY.
Mr. President, we have all seen the photographs of houses,
schools and other civilian infrastructure destroyed in Gaza, and the reports of
civilian deaths, including over 400 children, and many thousands more
injured. Behind each of
these statistics is a story of a family tragedy.
I want to take this opportunity to talk about one that has
touched the lives of Vermonters, and which should cause each of us deep
concern.
Amer Shurrab is a
recent graduate of Middlebury College, which is located not very far from my home in
Vermont. Amer
is also a Palestinian, whose family was living in
Gaza during the recent Israeli invasion.
His father, Muhammed Kassab Shurrah, is a farmer who grows fruits
and vegetables on a small plot of land.
On January 16th,
Amer’s father and brothers were returning home with provisions from
their farm during the 3 hour humanitarian cease-fire that was in effect
that day. Although there was
apparently no indication that the route was unsafe for a civilian
vehicle carrying civilian passengers, Israeli soldiers fired from a
civilian house at their car as it passed for reasons that remain
unknown. In a panic, Amer’s
brother, Kassab, already wounded, got out of the vehicle and was shot a
total of 18 times and died a short distance away.
Israeli bullets also hit Amer’s
father and younger brother Ibrahim, who were unable to leave the car to
get medical attention because Israeli soldiers refused to allow movement
in or out of the area.
Muhammed tried
everything he could to save his son Ibrahim, who was bleeding to death
before his eyes. He phoned a
hospital with his cell phone, but the hospital told him the Israeli Army
was preventing an ambulance from reaching them.
He called relatives, who contacted the Red Cross on his behalf to
ask for assistance, but the Red Cross had to wait for assurance from
Israeli authorities that an ambulance would get through unscathed,
assurance which was not forthcoming.
He spoke with several members of the press, including the BBC,
who even broadcast his plea for help.
But an ambulance could not reach them until 22 hours after the
incident, even though the hospital was located less than a mile away.
By this time, Ibrahim had died in his father’s arms.
Israeli troops reportedly looked on and ignored Muhammed’s pleas
for help.
This case cries out for
an immediate, thorough, credible and transparent investigation by the
Israeli Government. Any
individuals determined to have violated the laws of war should be
prosecuted and appropriately punished.
In addition, it is important that the U.S. Embassy determine
whether any Israeli soldiers who were equipped by the U.S. violated U.S.
laws or agreements governing the use of U.S. equipment, both in relation
to this incident and others involving civilian casualties.
This should include the use of white phosphorous in heavily
populated areas, which is alleged to have caused serious injuries to
civilians.
Mr. President, this is
a heartbreaking story. My
thoughts and prayers go out to Amer Shurrab and his family and friends,
and to the families of other civilians, Palestinian and Israeli, who
died or suffered other grievous losses in this latest escalation of
violence.
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