Jawan and Bilal Saed al-Lad'ah

Jawan and Bilal were among the most beautiful and purest children you could ever see. Their mother is my aunt, who is younger than me, but I always called her my sweet, smart little aunt. Their father, Saed, was a kind, principled, helpful, and respected man. They loved their children more than anything in the universe; they were the joy of their hearts. On every occasion, they would take pictures of them, like these, to show them when they grew up how much joy they brought. They remained in Gaza while tanks besieged them, and they witnessed things we cannot imagine. They evacuated through the Red Cross to Rafah, because it was what they call a "safe" area. But tonight, the house they were staying in in Rafah was targeted. My aunt, her husband, their children, and her husband's family all ascended to God. And the sweet little ones became birds flying in Paradise. Oh Lord, have mercy on them, and strengthen the hearts of my grandfather, my grandmother, my uncles, my aunts, and all of us. This is a pain planted in the heart that the years, no matter how long, will not erase. We do not object to Your judgment, Lord, but we can no longer bear it.