Child Profile: Sha’ban Jameel Sha’ban Ziyada

Name: Sha’ban Jameel Sha’ban Ziyada

Date of birth: 17 June 2002

Date of death: 20 July 2014

Twelve-year-old Sha’ban from Block-12 in Al Bureij camp in Deir Al Balah in the middle of the Gaza Strip was a calm child. His ambition was to be an engineer. He loved playing football with his brother and cousins. His closest friend was his sister Malak, 17, who was said to keep his secrets. He was an outstanding student. “I never imagined I would lose my brother, father,  and mother. I feel so lonely,” said his sister Malak.

At 12:30 pm on 20 July 2014, Jameel Sha’ban Ziyada’s house was bombarded with missiles from Israeli warplane. The family did not receive prior warning. The three-story house was completely destroyed. Seven members of the family and a relative were immediately killed.