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The Asaliya family is entering Ramadan this year burdened by yet another loss, after their 14-year-old son, Youssef Asaliya, was killed in the same area where his mother was martyred years ago, thus continuing the legacy of martyrdom that has marked the family's life.
Youssef's name was not just a passing mention in the family; it was the same as his brother's, who was also martyred 14 years prior, in another chapter of their recurring grief.
Rasem Asaliya, Youssef's father, said with a voice heavy with sorrow that his son was killed last Tuesday while trying to reach the Jabalia area, near their home which was destroyed during the war.
He explained that Youssef used to collect firewood from that area daily, despite the dangers, to provide for his family's needs amidst the scarcity and high prices of cooking gas, and the ongoing harsh living conditions resulting from the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and the blockade.
The father told Palestine Online that an Israeli drone fired a missile at his son while he was gathering firewood some distance from Israeli army positions, killing him instantly.
Asaliya emphasized that the area where his son was located was outside the Israeli army's deployment zones, and that he posed no threat to anyone, being just a child.
This wasn't the first tragedy for the family. Fourteen years ago, their eldest son, also named Youssef, was killed during an Israeli incursion east of Jabalia refugee camp.
At that time, his mother was pregnant, and the family insisted on naming their newborn son Youssef in memory of his brother. Now, Youssef II has joined his brother and mother, as Rasem, overcome with emotion, explained.
Asaliya points out that his wife, Reem Asaliya (36 years old), was killed on December 17, 2023, when she was targeted by a missile fired from an Israeli aircraft in the Al-Dakhiliya Street area of Jabalia.
Since then, the father has been responsible for supporting his family, which consists of three daughters and two sons, the eldest of whom was only fifteen at the time.
The Iftar Table
On the first day of Ramadan, the Iftar table at their displacement camp was empty of Youssef, who had been his father's support after their home in Jabalia was destroyed. The family is now living in the Ministry of Labor building west of Gaza City, which itself sustained significant damage.
The family gathers around a simple table, sharing whatever food they can find, while Youssef's laughter, which used to fill the place, is absent.
The father continued, saying that Youssef loved his siblings and was always eager to help them. He would gather firewood and sell it to buy basic necessities, and sometimes he would even buy meat for his brothers and sisters if he could. His voice breaking, he added, "He was happy when he saw his sisters eating well."
For his part, Mutasim Asaliya, the martyr's cousin, explained that Youssef bore a responsibility far beyond his years, given the scarcity of resources and the lack of job opportunities due to the war.
Asaliya confirmed to Palestine Online that Youssef had gone out on Tuesday morning, as usual, to collect firewood in preparation for Ramadan, due to the cooking gas shortage and its high cost. He was determined to gather enough to last the family for several days.
Mutasim recounted that one of his cousins was with Youssef at the time of the attack and witnessed what happened. He said, "The bombing was direct and intense, resulting in severe injuries to the child."
He noted that after many long and perilous hours, the family managed to retrieve his body amidst the continued overflights of Israeli drones and gunfire in the surrounding area.
The following day, the family completed the burial procedures at the al-Faluja cemetery, in an atmosphere heavy with fear and grief.
According to medical sources in Gaza, 14-year-old Rasem Yousef Asaliya was killed in an Israeli drone strike that targeted him east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Several other civilians were also injured in separate attacks that same day.
Data from the Gaza Ministry of Health indicates that since the ceasefire agreement came into effect until last Tuesday, daily Israeli violations have resulted in the deaths of 603 Palestinians and injuries to 1,618 others.
Since October 2023, the Gaza Strip has been subjected to a devastating war that, according to official sources, has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths and approximately 171,000 injuries, in addition to widespread destruction affecting nearly 90 percent of the civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimated the cost of reconstruction at approximately $70 billion.
In this somber scene, the Asaliya family tries to hold themselves together. Three daughters and a grieving father sit around a modest breakfast table, reminiscing about their mother and two sons, wondering how their hearts can bear such loss.
Ramadan, for which Youssef used to prepare with firewood and a glimmer of hope, arrived this year in heavy silence, leaving an empty place on the table filled only with prayers and tears.
Source: Palestine Online