Much of the world is in turmoil since Hamas attacked Israel in a well-coordinated assault on Oct 7.
The early morning incursion into Israel by several thousand Hamas terrorists resulted in the deaths of more than 1,300 civilians, many of whom were women, children and seniors, and the kidnapping of approximately 200 more.
Reports of atrocities — rapes, brutalizing children, decapitating infants and burning people alive — have flooded the internet and deepened the divide between the Arab-Muslim world and the West.
Last weekend, tensions boiled over as Hamas called for a “day of rage” and violent interactions between pro-Hamas protesters and law enforcement were reported in Paris, New York and in dozens of major cities across the globe.
The Daily Mail reported that a particularly disturbing violent attack on a six-year-old Palestinian boy and his mother, Hanan Shaheen, occurred on Sunday.
Hanan and her son were attacked by their landlord, Joseph M Czuba, 71, in Plainfield, Illinois. Hanan survived the attack — her son, Wadea Al-Fayoume, was stabbed 26 times and died from his wounds. His final words to his father were, “I’m fine.”
Hanan told police that as Czuba attacked, he shouted “hateful, anti-Muslim slurs.”
After choking Hanan, Czuba moved to attack her son; Hanan gathered herself and called 911. Czuba reportedly turned back on Hanan, drawing a knife and stabbing her a dozen times before viscously attacking the boy.
Hanan remains hospitalized but is expected to recover.
Wadea’s father, Oday Al-Fayoume, told authorities that his son and wife had a “good relationship” with the landlord before the attack.
“It is hard to picture this man holding a knife about to stab my son,” he said. “I keep thinking that my son was probably running towards him before getting stabbed, trying to give him a hug.”
The boy’s uncle, Yousef Hannon, shared at a press conference on Sunday, “We are not animals, we are humans. ‘We want people to see us as humans, to feel us as humans, to deal with us as humans, because this is what we are.”
Police arrested Czuba at the scene of the crime — sitting outside with a cut on his forehead. The man is charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, two counts of hate crimes and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The family moved to America from the West Bank in 2012. Wadea was born in the U.S.
The White House responded to the crime. President Biden posted: “Jill and I were sickened to learn of the brutal murder of a child and the attempted murder of the child’s mother yesterday in Illinois. Our condolences and prayers are with the family.”
The president added: “This act of hate against a Palestinian Muslim family has no place in America. As Americans, we must come together and reject Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred. I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate. We must be unequivocal.”
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said, “To take a six-year-old child’s life in the name of bigotry is nothing short of evil.”
The Muslim Civil Liberties organization called the attack “our worst nightmare” and part of a disturbing trend since Hamas attacked Israel.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
