[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S992-S993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING THE SHURRAB FAMILY

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, we have all seen the photographs of houses, 
schools and other civilian infrastructure destroyed in Gaza, and the 
reports of civilian deaths, including over 400 children, and many 
thousands more injured. Behind each of these statistics is a story of a 
family tragedy. I want to take this opportunity to talk about one that 
has touched the lives of Vermonters, and which should cause each of us 
deep concern.
  Amer Shurrab is a recent graduate of Middlebury College, which is 
located not very far from my home in Vermont. Amer is also a 
Palestinian, whose family was living in Gaza during the recent Israeli 
invasion. His father, Muhammed Kassab Shurrah, is a farmer who grows 
fruits and vegetables on a small plot of land.
  On January 16, Amer's father and brothers were returning home with 
provisions from their farm during the 3-hour humanitarian cease-fire 
that was in effect that day. Although there was apparently no 
indication that the route was unsafe for a civilian vehicle carrying 
civilian passengers, Israeli soldiers fired from a civilian house at 
their car as it passed for reasons that remain unknown. In a panic, 
Amer's brother, Kassab, already wounded, got out of the vehicle and was 
shot a total of 18 times and died a short distance away. Israeli 
bullets also hit Amer's father and younger brother Ibrahim, who were 
unable to leave the car to get medical attention because Israeli 
soldiers refused to allow movement in or out of the area.
  Muhammed tried everything he could to save his son Ibrahim, who was 
bleeding to death before his eyes. He phoned a hospital with his cell 
phone, but the hospital told him the Israeli Army was

[[Page S993]]

preventing an ambulance from reaching them. He called relatives, who 
contacted the Red Cross on his behalf to ask for assistance, but the 
Red Cross had to wait for assurance from Israeli authorities that an 
ambulance would get through unscathed, assurance which was not 
forthcoming. He spoke with several members of the press, including the 
BBC, who even broadcast his plea for help. But an ambulance could not 
reach them until 22 hours after the incident, even though the hospital 
was located less than a mile away. By this time, Ibrahim had died in 
his father's arms. Israeli troops reportedly looked on and ignored 
Muhammed's pleas for help.
  This case cries out for an immediate, thorough, credible and 
transparent investigation by the Israeli Government. Any individuals 
determined to have violated the laws of war should be prosecuted and 
appropriately punished. In addition, it is important that the U.S. 
Embassy determine whether any Israeli soldiers who were equipped by the 
U.S. violated U.S. laws or agreements governing the use of U.S. 
equipment, both in relation to this incident and others involving 
civilian casualties. This should include the use of white phosphorous 
in heavily populated areas, which is alleged to have caused serious 
injuries to civilians.
  Mr. President, this is a heartbreaking story. My thoughts and prayers 
go out to Amer Shurrab and his family and friends, and to the families 
of other civilians, Palestinian and Israeli, who died or suffered other 
grievous losses in this latest escalation of violence.

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