Tears, devastation as Gaza children back to school

[Jefferson23]

Palestinian boys walk past buildings that were destroyed by Israeli
strikes on their way to school in the Shujaiyeh neighborhood of
Gaza City on September 14, 2014.(AFP/Mahmud Hams)

GAZA CITY (AFP) -- As hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children returned to school in Gaza on Sunday, Azhar recited a poem eulogizing her father, killed by Israeli shelling in the enclave's recent conflict.

"Daddy, what can I tell you, if I say I love you it's not enough," the nine-year-old, who was beginning the fourth grade, read to a classroom of teary children.

"Today is the first day of school, so even though my dad was martyred in the war -- I'm happy," she told AFP with a smile.

Azhar, her classmates and half a million other children in Gaza were going back to school after a three-week delay caused by the 50-day conflict that ravaged the enclave and left more than 2,140 Palestinians dead.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=727542

[Mao Shung]

1. It is ashame

that the 4 year old Isreali hit by the Hamas rocket will never be old enough to go to school.

[Jefferson23]

2. Yes and it is a shame beyond proportions that Israel may get away with their lawn mowing

operations. They have a lot in common with Hamas.