Palestinian baby burned to death in West Bank arson attack

Photos by Ahmad Al-Bazz, Oren Ziv / Activestills.org

A one-and-a-half year old Palestinian baby was burned to death Friday morning in the West Bank village of Duma in an attack on his family’s home allegedly by Israeli settlers.

Relatives of Ali Saad Daobasa, the Palestinian baby who was killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers, are seen in the Daobasa family home, just hours after the attack, July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz.)
Relatives of Ali Saad Dawabsha, the Palestinian baby who was killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers, are seen in the Daobasa family home, just hours after the attack, Douma, West Bank, July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz.)

According to reports, two masked men arrived at two homes in Duma, near Nablus. They spray painted the words “revenge” and “long live the Messiah” in Hebrew, broke the windows of the homes and threw two firebombs inside. The attack killed Ali Saad Dawabsha, and wounded both his parents and four-year-old brother.

According to Ma’an News Agency, the homes were located near the main entrance to the village and the settlers were able to flee the scene quickly before residents identified them.

A relatives of Ali Saad Daobasa, the Palestinian baby who was killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers, are seen in the Daobasa family home, just hours after the attack, July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz.)
A relatives of Ali Saad Dawabsha, the Palestinian baby who was killed in an arson attack by Israeli settlers, are seen in the Daobasa family home, just hours after the attack, Douma, West Bank July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz.)

Dozens of villagers from Duma rushed to help rescue the two families from their burning homes, witnesses said. The family members were evacuated to a hospital in Nablus in the West Bank before being taken to the burn unit at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.

Palestinian relatives of 1.5-year-old Ali Saad Daobasa stand outside the family home that was attacked by Israeli settlers overnight. The graffiti reads: 'Long live the Messiah,' July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Palestinian relatives of 1.5-year-old Ali Saad Dawabsha stand outside the family home that was attacked by Israeli settlers overnight. The graffiti reads: ‘Long live the Messiah,’ Douma, West Bank, July 31, 2015. (photo: Ahmad Al-Bazz/Activestills.org)

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli settlers have carried out at least 120 attacks on Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank since the start of 2015.

Photographs of Ali Saad Daobasa, the Palestinian baby in an overnight arson attack, are laid out on the floor of his family home, Douma, West Bank, July 31, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Photographs of Ali Saad Dawabsha, the Palestinian baby in an overnight arson attack, are laid out on the floor of his family home, Douma, West Bank, July 31, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)