KAFR AL-LABAD, West Bank — In the early hours of Sunday, Mohammed Shula received a distressing phone call from his pregnant daughter-in-law, Sondos Shalabi. As she whispered amidst her panic, she pleaded for help, saying, “You have to save us.” Tragically, just moments later, she was shot dead.
Shalabi and her husband, Yazan Shula, made the decision to flee their home in the crowded Nur Shams refugee camp near Tulkarem due to an increasing military presence. Israeli military vehicles had swarmed the area as part of a broader offensive against Palestinian militants in the northern West Bank, a situation exacerbated since a recent ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza came into effect. The Israeli military’s operations have been announced as efforts to thwart Iranian influence linked to Hamas in the region.
The shooting of Shalabi, aged 23, has raised serious concerns among Palestinians regarding the increasingly aggressive tactics of Israeli forces in the West Bank. Following the incident, the Israeli army stated that the case had been forwarded to military police for investigation. On the same day, another young Palestinian woman, 21, was killed after stepping on an explosive device placed by the Israeli army near her home. The military justified that action by claiming a wanted militant was inside the house, stating that the woman did not heed the soldiers’ warnings. They expressed regrets for any unintentional casualties among civilians.
Since October 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports that at least 905 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, amidst the backdrop of escalating violence following Hamas’ attack that initiated the current conflict. This grim figure includes militants killed in confrontations, as well as innocent civilians such as a young girl, a boy, and an elderly man who lost their lives during the chaos.
Maher Kanan, part of an emergency response team from the neighboring village of Anabta, described the shifting approach of the Israeli army, indicating a significant rise in civilian casualties and displacement compared to previous confrontations, likening the situation to conditions previously seen in Gaza.
Mohammed Shula shared that his son Yazan, who had recently lost his job due to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian workers, was incredibly anxious about his wife’s well-being as the birth of their child approached. Yazan viewed fatherhood with great anticipation, while his wife had become a cherished part of the Shula family after marrying him 18 months ago.
On that fateful Sunday, the young couple gathered essential belongings with the intent of driving to Shalabi’s parents’ house, where they believed it would be safer due to the absence of military operations. Young Bilal, Yazan’s brother, decided to join them. However, shortly after leaving, gunfire erupted, leading to a horrific incident in which Yazan was shot by an Israeli sniper.
Shalabi, in a frantic state, managed to call her father-in-law. As she described the scene, fear pervaded her voice, and the connection was abruptly lost. Mohammed Shula attempted to keep her calm while encouraging her to seek help from nearby homes. Despite her urgent knocks for assistance, no one answered.
As situations worsened, neighbors voiced their fears of venturing outside due to the potential risk of being shot. A local resident, Suleiman Zuheiri, expressed the despair felt by those nearby as medics struggled to reach the injured couple due to military interference. Although the International Committee of the Red Cross had obtained permission for ambulances to enter the area, they faced significant delays as they attempted to navigate the war-torn environment.
The Red Crescent reported that when paramedics finally accessed the pair, Yazan was in critical condition and remained on life support as of Tuesday, while Shalabi had sadly succumbed to her injuries along with their unborn child.
Mohammed Shula is left grappling with the realization that soldiers witnessed Shalabi’s bleeding body and chose not to intervene. As he reflects on the tragedy, he questions the motives of the soldiers involved, feeling deep sorrow for a family that was simply trying to escape violence.
Later, the Israeli army launched an invasion into the camp, resulting in further destruction and chaos as armored bulldozers tore through the streets. Mohammed Shula’s family was then commanded to vacate their home. The Israeli military insists they are facilitating voluntary departures from conflict zones, yet numerous testimonies from residents contradict this assertion, indicating that many were forcibly displaced.
In his time of urgency, all Mohammed Shula could gather was a bag of diapers for his grandchild. The emotional toll of the situation is profound, overshadowing even the most personal belongings and cherished memories they were forced to leave behind in the chaos.
