Israel Gave This Gaza Family a Five-minute Warning. Then It Bombed Its Home
By News
Published 5 years ago on
June 10, 2019
Share
[aggregation-styles]
Haaretz
Haaretz
At 4:40 P.M. on Sunday, May 5, the ringing of a cell phone woke Khamis Ziada from his nap. It was an unidentified number. A voice on the other end said, “Am I speaking with Khamis Ziada? You’re talking to the Israeli Shin Bet. There’s a school opposite your house. Are there people in it at this time of the day?” Ziada replied that there was no one in the school in the late afternoon on that particular day, the first day of the Ramadan fast, and in any case school had been canceled because of the Israeli bombing raids.
The security service agent continued, “Are you sure there are no women and children in the school? Are you positive there’s no one?” And then, “I’m giving you five minutes to tell your family and everyone in the residence you live in to go outside. We have to blow up the building in another five minutes.”
Dumbstruck, Ziada tried to protest. He explained to the mysterious caller that it was impossible to evacuate a seven-story building – where 15 families, including some with children and elderly people, lived – within five minutes. The Shin Bet man replied: “That’s of no interest to me. I already told you: You have five minutes.”
The security service agent continued, “Are you sure there are no women and children in the school? Are you positive there’s no one?” And then, “I’m giving you five minutes to tell your family and everyone in the residence you live in to go outside. We have to blow up the building in another five minutes.”
Dumbstruck, Ziada tried to protest. He explained to the mysterious caller that it was impossible to evacuate a seven-story building – where 15 families, including some with children and elderly people, lived – within five minutes. The Shin Bet man replied: “That’s of no interest to me. I already told you: You have five minutes.”
By Gideon Levy | 8 June 2019
RELATED TOPICS:
Senate Dismissed Two Articles of Impeachment, Ending Trial on Mayorkas
Politics /
17 hours ago
Netanyahu Dismisses Calls for Restraint, Says Israel Will Decide Iran Attack Response
World /
17 hours ago
Biden Pledges to Block Japanese Takeover of US Steel and Promises Tariffs on Chinese Steel
Politics /
17 hours ago
Don Arax Talks About His New Football Job at Visalia’s Central Valley Christian
Latest /
18 hours ago
Career-High Strike Outs for Ryan Weathers as Marlins Best Giants 6-3
Sports /
20 hours ago
LeBron’s Lakers Top Pelicans in Play-in, Set up Playoff Rematch With Nuggets
Sports /
20 hours ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Politics /
14 hours ago
Biden Backs House’s Aid Package for Ukraine, Israel While Speaker Johnson Battles to Retain Position
Politics /
17 hours ago
Senate Dismissed Two Articles of Impeachment, Ending Trial on Mayorkas
World /
17 hours ago
Netanyahu Dismisses Calls for Restraint, Says Israel Will Decide Iran Attack Response
Cannabis /
6 days ago