© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An indication of a USAID undertaking is seen within the central Gaza Strip January 31, 2019. Image taken January 31, 2019. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File Picture
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A contractor for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) in Gaza was killed together with his spouse and two daughters aged 4 and two in an Israeli air strike in November, his employer mentioned on Saturday.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm the tragic loss of our colleague, Hani Jnena (33), along with his family in Gaza, including his wife, Abeer (32), and their two young daughters, Mariam and Zayna, aged 4 and 2,” non-profit group International Communities, which companions with governments and personal sector entities for humanitarian work, mentioned in a press release.
“Based on the information currently available to us, the young family was killed on Sunday, November 5, during an Israeli air strike in the Al Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City at the residence of Hani’s in-laws,” the assertion added.
The household had lately sought security there after fleeing air strikes in their very own neighborhood of Al Sheikh in Gaza Metropolis, International Communities mentioned, including his in-laws have been killed as effectively.
In his last message, which was despatched on Oct. 10, Jnena wrote: “My daughters are terrified, and I am trying to keep them calm, but this bombing is terrifying,” in response to the assertion from his employer.
Jnena was a member of the non-profit’s IT crew in Gaza and was identified for “his kindness and commitment to delivering essential IT services in challenging conditions,” International Communities mentioned.
The most recent eruption within the decades-long Israel-Palestinian battle started on Oct. 7, when Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that guidelines Gaza, killed 1,200 Israelis and seized 240 hostages in a cross-border raid.
Since then, Israeli forces have besieged the coastal enclave and laid a lot of it to waste, with practically 19,000 folks lifeless, in response to Palestinian well being officers.
The Washington Put up reported on Saturday that the USAID contractor’s loss of life led to calls from inside USAID to the administration of President Joe Biden for accountability from Israel.
A USAID spokesperson advised Reuters the USAID group “grieves the deaths of the innocent civilians and many humanitarian workers who have been killed in this conflict, including courageous individuals like Hani Jnena.”
The spokesperson added the US is elevating concern with Israel in “every conversation” concerning the want for humanitarian staff to securely distribute help and for civilians to have the ability to entry it.
In a press release to the Washington Put up, the IDF didn’t verify or deny Israel’s duty in Jnena’s loss of life however mentioned the IDF at all times follows worldwide legislation and takes “feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.”
