Palestinian Astrophysicist in US Recounts How His 11-Year-Old Son Died When Israeli Warplanes Bombed His Family's House

Democracy Now by Suleiman Barak, Amy Goodman | Jan. 16, 2009 (Special Report)

As the Palestinian death toll in Israel’s assault on Gaza climbs above 1,100, we take a look behind the statistics. Suleiman Baraka is a Palestinian astrophysicist working at Virgnia Tech with NASA. His eleven-year-old son Ibrahim was killed in an Israeli air strike on his house. His wife and three other children are now homeless in Gaza, along with seventeen members of his family. Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu

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Subjects: World, Living
Topics: Israel, Palestine, Gaza
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Posted by: Posted by Dwight Rousu - Jan 17, 2009 - 1:13 PM PST
Reviewed by: Dwight Rousu (review), Marsha Iverson (review), Mike LaBonte (review), Norman Rogers (review)
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Edited by: Dwight Rousu - Jan 17, 2009 - 1:13 PM PST

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Mike LaBonte
3.7
 by Mike LaBonte - Jan. 21, 2009

The emotion in this interview is entirely expected, given the circumstances. This has no Israeli viewpoint, but neither does Baraka indulge in disparaging the Israelis.

It would be fascinating to hear why the IDF bombed those houses.

See Full Review » (12 answers)
Marsha Iverson
4.9
 by Marsha Iverson - Jan. 18, 2009

As always, Amy Goodman manages to get to the core of the issue. Her guests, Suleiman and Sayed Baraka, share their heartbreaking story of the injury and death of Sueliman's 11-year-old son Ibrahim, the injury of their mother, and the destruction of their family's homes, neighborhood, and neighbors in Gaza.

Gazan Sulieman Baraka teaches astrophysics at Virginia Tech. He learned that his son was killed in the Israeli attacks on Gaza, and his entire family is now homeless. And he is not allowed to enter Gaza for the funeral of his own son. Those of us who remember the horror at Virginia Tech two years ago when a mentally ill student opened fire on students and faculty at the university must remember how this entire nation--in deep shock--grieved their loss. This man has lost his child, ... More »

Thank you, first, for giving me this chance to talk to a American public. I was in my office. I received a call that there was a bombing in my area, and then, after a ... More »

See Full Review » (23 answers)
Dwight Rousu
4.6
 by Dwight Rousu - Jan. 17, 2009

This is a detailed telling of the story of one man working as an Astrophysicist in the U.S. as his home is destroyed in Gaza and his son Ibrahim is killed. The interview shows his humanity facing the inhumanity of the assaults. One of eleven hundred stories.

Dwight posted this story.
See Full Review » (12 answers)
Norman Rogers
1.3
 by Norman Rogers - Jan. 22, 2009

Straight pro palestinian propaganda. Amazing, people are killed in wars!

See Full Review » (6 answers)

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