Bereaved father chooses the path of light. Which path shall we choose?

Slightly over 2 weeks ago I posted a blog titled: I cry with you Abu al-Aish , about a special moment in the Gaza war when Palestinian civilian suffering drove home to every Israeli living room.

Today, the IDF published the results of its inquiry into the incident. The IDF admitted that 3 of Dr. Abu al-Aish daughters were killed by 2 tank shells that were shot by mistake into their apartment. This represents a closure of sorts for the doctor who's been adamantly claiming that no arms or armed men were operating or hidden in his home.

His comments after the release make me really admire this man who suffered the steepest loss of all: "I have two options - the path of darkness or the path of light. The path of darkness is like choosing all the complications with diseases and depression, but the path of light is to focus on the future and my children. This strengthened my conviction to continue on the same path and not to give up."

I think that we in iPeace can learn a great deal from the good doctor.

Gaza doctor who lost daughters in IDF strike: Everyone makes mistakes

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, who lost three daughters and a niece in an Israel Defense Forces strike in the Gaza Strip last month, responded Wednesday to an IDF statement confirming that it was Israeli fire that killed his daughters, thanking those responsible for investigating the incident and saying that "we all make mistakes, and we don't repeat them."

Abu al-Aish, a father of eight, became one of the symbols of the Gaza offensive for Israelis after he captivated TV viewers with a sobbing live report on the death of his three daughters and his niece in Israeli shelling. The 55-year-old gynecologist trained in Israeli hospitals and speaks Hebrew.

The IDF announced earlier Wednesday that an investigation into the January 16 incident confirmed that it had been Israeli fire that killed the four girls.

"First of all, I would like to thank all those who worked, and had the courage and good conscience to shed light on the truth that I always believed. Thank you to everyone who took upon themselves to publicize this truth seeking investigation," Abu al-Aish said in an interview with Channel 2.

The Palestinian doctor went on to say "I have two options - the path of darkness or the path of light. The path of darkness is like choosing all the complications with diseases and depression, but the path of light is to focus on the future and my children. This strengthened my conviction to continue on the same path and not to give up."

Abu al-Aish did not neglect to thank the Israelis who met with him and offered him strength, saying "the love that I've received, from people I knew and people I didn't know, gave me strength."

The IDF released the conclusions of its investigation into the incident earlier Wednesday, explaining that Golani troops had been fired upon by snipers situated in the house adjacent to Abu al-Aish's home. The troops identified suspicious figures in the upper levels of the doctor's building, and deduced that they were serving as observers, directing the sniper fire from their vantage point.

Following long deliberations and assessments of the situation, the Golani commander decided to fire tank shells at the building, and when the soldiers heard the screams and realized civilians had been hit, they helped evacuate them, the investigation revealed.

The army argues further that the residents of the neighborhood were urged to evacuate the area prior to the attack via thousands of leaflets that were disseminated in the area, and that the doctor was personally asked by phone to evacuate his family from the neighborhood due to the fighting.

Abu al-Aish denied that there were any militants in the building at the time of the shelling.

The IDF spokesman's office issued a statement extending the IDF's condolences over the incident, but maintaining that the IDF operated within reason in light of the sniper fire directed at the troops and the heavy fighting in the region.

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Comment by Roberta Boulton on February 5, 2009 at 1:56am: Thanks for bringing this to my attention. It is a truly inspiring story and I send my love and support to this man and his family. Love is the best path but to have the courage to walk it after such a tragedy is a beacon to us all.

Comment by Irit Hakim-Keller on February 5, 2009 at 12:56am: One must have a great and noble spirit to be able to take the way Abu al Aish has taken, the way you - dear David had taken, and a few people more I guess.It is very rare and precious to find persons with this kind of strength-of-spirit.
May you have the strength to carry on, and to influence others to follow your way.
Irit

Comment by Gina Kotaiche on February 4, 2009 at 11:52pm: When we say love, forgiven, hope... we mean peace, we mean light.

Comment by Stephanie on February 4, 2009 at 11:42pm: This is a deep and meaningful story - one we will not forget.
Thank you for sharing it
Stephanie

Comment by David Gould on February 4, 2009 at 11:11pm: I have commented before in verse about this very special man, a father with whom the whole world stood as he mourned the deaths of his three fine daughters. I know something of the courage it takes to follow that path of light he has chosen. He is a very special and beautiful human being and a shining example to the world about how to break the futile cycles of hatred and be guided by love alone. Abu we love you for what you are as a loving father and a great man of peace.
I too cried with you.
Now I rejoice that you follow the path of light.
May your footsteps be guided by the only comforter of the Nations.
David Gould

Comment by Nancy Louise on February 4, 2009 at 11:10pm: What extraordinary courage, and the ability to respond with some sense of reason rather than knee jerk rage. Yes, there is much we can all learn from this good doctor. I wonder, would I have been able to do the same? It is something to deeply ponder as we go about our days. Can we be as forgiving and understanding of our own mistakes as in others? Peace does not mean laying down to be trampled on, but it does mean being willing to see that others are not trampled and help them up. It sometimes means swallowing painful loss as well.
Peace to all, forever
Nancy Louise

Comment by Beatrice LATEUR LACROIX on February 4, 2009 at 11:07pm: Love is the only path for all of us.
Love means forgivness, light, hope and Life.
I do admire this really wise and courageous father. He is one of our Masters.
Love and Peace.

Comment by Marica on February 4, 2009 at 11:01pm: the path of light,hope,God,Peace,love

Comment by Todd Olson on February 4, 2009 at 10:58pm: Telling the truth is everything. Why? Because you just don't know just how many more victims you will make by lying. & God knows all. This is why I explained myself to everyone & anyone. No one in the end will get away with any thing. I beg for forgiveness every day for any thing that I myself have over looked. Because God will remember. Why else would I keep going with what is going on with me. www.toddsappeal.com & www.toddolsonsappeal.com I've been telling everyone all along this hole case. All the way back to 2000. & they, yea they wrote it all down in countless documents as far back as 2000. When this all started.God has taught me a extream lesson, take responability for your faults I will make sure everyone else does.

Comment by Clicia Pavan on February 4, 2009 at 10:50pm: Only on Monday (day 02 February)
almost a month later, Mawell Gaylord,
coordinator of humanitarian actions
UN in Jerusalem, admits the truth:
the mortar was launched into a street
near the school, but not against the school
of the magazine "Veja"