SEVERAL family members of the Palestinian ambassador to the UK’s family have been killed during an Israeli airstrike on Rafah.
Husam Zomlot – a diplomat and economist who has served as head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK since 2018 – posted a widely-shared and distressing photograph of the body of a young girl hanging from a building in the wake of an airstrike.
He identified the girl as his wife’s seven-year-old cousin Sidra Hassouna and said several other family members were also killed in the attack.
“This is 7 year old Sidra, the cousin of my wife,” he said on X/Twitter.
This is 7 year old Sidra, the cousin of my wife. The impact of the Israeli missile was so powerful it flung her out, leaving her mutilated body dangling from the ruins of the destroyed building in Rafah 48 hours ago. My wife’s aunt Suzan, her husband Fouzy Hassouna, two of their… pic.twitter.com/0RFgyPUdzu
— Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot) February 14, 2024
“The impact of the Israeli missile was so powerful it flung her out, leaving her mutilated body dangling from the ruins of the destroyed building in Rafah 48 hours ago.
“My wife’s aunt Suzan, her husband Fouzy Hassouna, two of their sons, Muhammad and Karam, Karam's wife Amouna and her three children (7-year-old twins Sidra and Suzan, and 15-month-old Malik) were all killed.
“The family had been displaced from the north of Gaza and took shelter in Rafah. We will be relentless until those responsible brought to justice.”
The National columnist Owen Jones offered his condolences alongside several Labour MPs.
“I am so so sorry,” said Jones.
READ MORE: Gaza: Patients die as oxygen cut off during Israeli raid on hospital
“This is a crime of historic proportions and the pain imposed on you, your loved ones and the Palestinian people is beyond unforgivable.”
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “My dear Husam and family, I am shocked angry and appalled at your loss and the thousands more in this disgusting onslaught on the Palestinian people.
“You do so much good to represent Palestine despite the terrible pain of such loss.”
It comes as international concern mounts over a potential ground offensive by Israeli forces on Rafah, where more than one million people are sheltering after being displaced.
READ MORE: BAE Systems: Pro-Palestine campaigners blockade entrance to site in Glasgow
Senior figures in the Israeli government are due to meet with world leaders, including US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in Munich on Friday where pressure will be placed on them not to forge ahead with the plans.
More than 28,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since October 7, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
In October, Sky News issued a statement after more than 1500 complaints were made to Ofcom over presenter Kay Burley's misrepresentation of Zomlot's views.
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