Chicago Cop’s 10 Family Members Killed in Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza

A Chicago police officer lost almost a dozen family members in Gaza amid retaliatory airstrikes by Israel this week.  

Mohammad Darabaih, a 16-year veteran with the Chicago Police Department, told WGN-TV that ten of his relatives were killed when his cousin's home was struck in Gaza.

“My sister and husband, and the whole family got bombed, and they’re all dead,” he said. “Her son, a 7-year-old boy … is on life support. Her 6-year-old daughter, Zayna, is dead; they pulled her out of the rubble.”

While most of his family was killed, 2-year-old twins and another child who is in a coma with brain damage, survived, he told NBC Chicago. 

"They're growing up without both their parents, immediate parents and grandparents. They lost them all," Darabaih said. “There’s a lot of civilians and a lot of family members dying by the minute,” he told WGN-TV. 

Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes in response to Hamas' devastating assault last Saturday which claimed more than 1,300 lives.  

The nation launched what officials are calling a “complete siege” on Gaza, which is home to more than 2 million people, nearly half of whom are children, according to the United Nations. 

More than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza. Supplies of food, fuel, drinking water and electricity have been cut off from the strip.

“I condemn the killing of innocent people. It doesn't matter if they are Israeli or Palestinian.” Darabaih told WGN-TV. “We need peace, both sides need to seek peace.”