In Unusual Move, Israel Recognizes Gazan Laborer Killed By Rocket In Israeli Moshav As Terror Victim

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israeli defense ministry and National Insurance Institute have recognized a 34-year-old Gazan laborer who was killed by rocket fire as he worked in a Western Negev Moshav as a victim of terror. The decision entitles his widow and children to compensation from Israel, according to a Times of Israel report.

Abu Jaba, 34, was reportedly married with six children, ranging in age from a baby to 11 years old. His brother Hamad Abu Jaba was seriously injured in the same rocket strike at an agricultural building site near the southern border town of Shokeda.

An Israeli Bedouin man employed as a guard at the site was moderately wounded.

The men were apparently at the location in violation of IDF Home Front Command instructions and there was no bomb shelter available for them to seek refuge, the Haaretz daily reported on Sunday.

The report said that permission to carry out “limited work” during bouts of rocket fire from Gaza is only granted if there is a bomb shelter available for the workers, and in accordance with specific guidelines from the IDF.

According to the report, no such guidelines were issued during the recent fighting, and the bomb shelter at the construction site was still being built, with only the walls in place.

In addition, there was no rocket siren alert in the area because it was in an open area, Hebrew media reports said.

The three men had apparently tried to seek cover after hearing explosions from the Iron Dome anti-missile system as it intercepted other incoming rockets. Iron Dome only targets missiles identified as heading toward populated areas.

Some 18,000 Gazans have permits to work in Israel. Hundreds were believed trapped in the country when the IDF launched its operation in response to rocket fire, and the border crossings were shut.

In addition to Abdullah Abu Jaba, one other person was killed in Israel in the recent rocket strikes from the Gaza Strip, which ended in a ceasefire Saturday night. Eighty-year-old Inga Avramyan died in a rocket strike in the central city of Rehovot last week. Her grandson said she was trying to help her husband with disabilities reach shelter when the missile hit.