Family of slain Palestinian toddler fight for their lives

  • 02/08/2015
 Relatives of 18-month-old Palestinian baby Ali Saad Dawabsha, who was killed after his family's house was set on fire in a suspected attack by Jewish extremists, react during his funeral in Duma village. (Reuters)
Relatives of 18-month-old Palestinian baby Ali Saad Dawabsha, who was killed after his family's house was set on fire in a suspected attack by Jewish extremists, react during his funeral in Duma village. (Reuters)

The parents and brother of a Palestinian toddler burned to death by suspected Jewish extremists are fighting for their lives, as demonstrators held a second day of protests over the arson attack.

The firebombing of the family's home in the occupied West Bank that killed 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha sparked an international outcry over Israel's failure to get to grips with violence by hardline Jewish settlers.

The child's father, Saad, was in a critical condition, being treated for third-degree burns at the Soroka hospital in southern Israel.

Mother Riham and four-year-old brother Ahmed were being treated at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv, where a spokeswoman described their conditions as life-threatening.

The family's small brick and cement home was gutted by fire, and a Jewish Star of David spray-painted on a wall along with the words "revenge" and "long live the Messiah".

That was indicative of so-called "price tag" violence - a euphemism for nationalist-motivated hate crimes by Jewish extremists.

The arson attack followed days of tensions over West Bank settlements, with right-wing groups opposing the demolition of two buildings under construction that the Israeli High Court said were illegal.

The demolition began on Wednesday, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the same day authorised the immediate construction of 300 settler homes in the same area, angering Palestinians.

A delegation of senior Palestinian officials, including Palestine Liberation Organisation secretary general Saeb Erakat, Palestinian Authority security head Majed Faraj and health minister Jawad Awwad visited the Tel Hashomer hospital on Saturday.

Erakat, who is also chief negotiator for peace talks with Israel, reiterated that the Palestinians hold the Israeli government "fully responsible" for the attack on the family.

Following the attack, Palestinian protesters took to the streets across the West Bank, triggering clashes with the Israeli army.

On Saturday, dozens clashed with Israeli forces at the Jalazon refugee camp, where the funeral of Laith Khaldi had taken place.

Khaldi, 16, was shot by Israeli soldiers Friday after throwing a Molotov cocktail, the army said.

AFP