Riham Dawabsheh, Mother Of Palestinian Toddler Killed In West Bank Arson Attack, Dies In Israel Hospital

The mother of a Palestinian toddler killed in an arson attack succumbed to her burn wounds and died Sunday. News of 27-year-old Riham Dawabsheh’s death spread just one day after Israeli hospital officials listed her in critical condition. Dawabsheh’s 18-month-old son, Ali, was killed in an arson attack on July 31, suspected to have been set by Jewish extremists.

Dawabsheh suffered burns to 90 percent of her body. Her husband, Sa’ad, 32, suffered similar wounds and succumbed to his injuries on Aug. 8 at Israel’s Soroka Hospital, according to Arutz Sheva. Dawabsheh’s other son, 4-year-old Ahmed, survived and his condition has improved.

“From my perspective, I lost her already then during the fire,” Manor Dawabsheh, Riham’s cousin, told the Jerusalem Post. “But this is still very sad. It is very difficult also to think about little Ahmed who already lost his brother and his father, and now this is happening."

The nighttime fire occurred at the Dawabsheh residence in Duma, a town on the West Bank. After the fire, spray-painted graffiti, which included the word “revenge” and a Star of David were spotted on the walls of houses throughout the town, according to the New York Times.

Both Israeli and Palestinian authorities condemned the attacks, which they classified as terrorism.

Following the events of July 31, Israel placed two suspected Jewish extremists under administrative detention – allowing the country to hold them indefinitely. Several others were placed under restraining orders, prohibiting them from entering the West Bank, according to Ynet News.