In late December 2023, Al Araby TV broadcast photos of a man and a baby who had been shot by Israeli army snipers; the dying man was trying to caress the baby. The BBC investigated the incident.
Through social media, it was discovered that the man was Mohammed Abdallah Al Madjalawi, 40 years old; the baby was his 2-year-old daughter, Layan; and the location was Hamid Street in Gaza City. In February 2025, the family was located: the mother, Sorayya, and her other children, Shaad and Abud.
Shaad recounted the story. They lived in Al Shati, in Gaza; after Israel bombed residential areas, they took refuge at Al Shati A&B Elementary School, along with other displaced families.
On November 9, 2023, Israel issued evacuation orders and bombed the area; they fled southward and turned onto Hamid Street, a route believed to be safe. Sorayya, Shahd, and Abud were in the lead. Mohammed, who was carrying Layan, fell behind...
Mohammed and Layan reached an intersection; at the end of the street was a tank; Israeli vehicles and snipers in the buildings fired at Layan and her father, who fell to the ground; Sorayya, Abud, and Shahd heard the shots and ran back.
Shahd tried to pick up Layan and help her father, but they were shot at, wounding Shahd in the arm; her father told them to leave them behind and run away; they never saw them again. This was one of 160 cases investigated in which the Israeli army deliberately shoots at children.
Drawings by Dolores Collado
Full history to print: 065_Layan_english.pdf
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