How Israeli-Hamas war led to the murder of a 6-year-old in US

In the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas, something terrible happened in Illinois, US. A 71-year-old man, Joseph Czuba, stabbed a 6-year-old Muslim kid and a woman.

The boy was pronounced dead at a hospital. The woman had multiple stab wounds and was expected to survive.

The authorities revealed that the motive behind the attack was the conflict between Hamas and Israel. They believe the accused deliberately singled out the victims because of their Islamic faith.

Details of the incident:

• In Illinois, the Will County Sheriff's Office charged a 71-year-old man with a hate crime after he allegedly fatally stabbed a 6-year-old boy and critically injured a 32-year-old woman.
• The violent altercation took place in Plainfield, near Chicago, where a woman contacted the police, reporting an attack by her landlord.
• She sought refuge in the bathroom, attempting to defend herself.
• Upon arrival, law enforcement officers discovered both the woman and her 6-year-old son with multiple stab wounds across their chests, torsos, and arms.

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• The young boy succumbed to his injuries, having suffered 26 stab wounds.
• The assailant employed a large 12-inch knife with a 7-inch blade, resembling a military-style weapon.

President Biden expressed his repugnance at the assault on a Palestinian-American mother and her son.

Capture of the assailant

• The police apprehended Czuba outside the residence and subsequently transported him to the hospital for medical treatment before questioning him.
• Czuba was found outside the property with a laceration on his forehead.
• It was evident that his selection of victims was driven by their Muslim identity and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East.

• While the victims' identities were not publicly disclosed, a rights organisation known as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) identified the boy as Wadea al-Fayoume and his mother as Hanaan Shahin.

• Wadea was a US-born citizen, while his mother migrated 12 years ago from the West Bank in the Middle East.

• Reports from the FBI, as well as Jewish and Muslim organizations, indicate a surge in hostile and menacing rhetoric.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict persists for ten days, hospitals in Gaza are facing an imminent fuel shortage within the next 24 hours, a consequence of Israel's decision to cut off supplies in response to a recent Hamas attack.

The conflict has resulted in over 4,000 casualties, with no plans for Gaza reoccupation, but with an emphasis on eradicating Hamas, as stated by Israel's UN ambassador.

The escalating death toll, surpassing 3,200, alongside numerous injuries and disappearances, has spurred the international community to expedite efforts in addressing the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.

Also Read: Gaza in ruins, death toll soars after Israeli airstrikes, Biden warns Netanyahu