Aya Tawfiq Abu Jamee

Location Khan Younis

Ten-year-old Aya from Khan Younis was supposed to start sixth grade soon. She was smart. She liked to watch Toyor Al Janah, the local children’s TV channel. She liked to look good. Her voice was very sweet, so she used to sing. She had the ability to imitate others. “The first time Aya called her grandmother, she called her ‘Kekah’ and up until today, we call Aya ‘Kekah’,” her father said. Aya drew beautifully. Her ambition was to be an engineer. “Her mother and I felt so proud when we listened to her talking about her dreams for the future,” her father added.  

On 20 July 2014, just before sunset, the Abu Jamee’s three-story house was bombarded with missiles by Israeli forces. There was no prior warning given. “It was a real massacre; twenty-six people were killed. Three people were injured and survived,” her father added.