(MENAFN) A tragic incident occurred in Gaza when a man with Down syndrome, Mohammed Bahar, was killed by a dog belonging to the Israeli army. The 24-year-old, who had difficulty speaking, was reportedly heard shouting, "Please, stop! Please, stop!" as the dog attacked him in his home on July 3. His mother, Nabila, witnessed the harrowing event unfold as Israeli forces surrounded their family home, which housed 12 members, located east of Gaza City.

According to Nabila, the commotion began when the children in the house heard the sounds of the Israeli soldiers, causing them to cry out in fear. The family called out to the soldiers, identifying themselves as civilians. In the midst of this chaos, a dog suddenly appeared where Mohammed was sitting on his favorite couch. Despite the family's efforts to pull him away, the dog was quicker and lunged at him, biting his shoulder. Nabila recalled frantically screaming for help, desperately urging those present to intervene as the dog continued its attack.

As the situation escalated, the dog shifted its focus and began to bite Mohammed's arm. In an attempt to calm the animal, he reached out with his other hand to pat it, but his efforts proved futile, and the dog persisted. Eventually, Mohammed stopped resisting, leading to visible injuries on his arm. Nabila then described how several Israeli soldiers entered the home, pointing their weapons at her son. She implored them to leave him alone, emphasizing his disability. After some time, the soldiers managed to remove the dog, but by then, Mohammed's hand was already wounded and bleeding.

Following the attack, the soldiers confined Mohammed to a room. Nabila sought clarification about what was happening, and the soldiers informed her that they had arranged for a doctor to come and treat her son. The family's ordeal reflects the distressing circumstances faced by civilians in conflict zones.

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