It seems that the occupation forces denied Zaid Saad Allah Abu Halima (11) the blessing of performing the afternoon prayer of Saturday, January 3, 2009, so they bombarded him with his father, two brothers and only sisters with the first white phosphorous missile. The missiles had not directly hit Zaid like they did to his family members, but they suffocated him. The nearby occupation forces foiled all attempts to rescue him, so, he choked to death as his aunt Um Saleh said. His mother had named him (her seventh child) after the noble Prophet follower; Zaid bin Al Hareth. He was a 5 year primary grader. The missiles had also burned his school books as well as his bedroom where he used to wake up with the voice of his martyred brother, Abdel Rahim, playfully inviting him to get up and have the potato fries which he loved for breakfast.

His aunt Um Saleh says, " He had white complexion, and he was light hearted. All around him never tired of looking at his face and dimples when he laughs. She adds that he was martyred with a prayer mat in his hand after he had asked his father to stop playing the coin toss game to perform his prayers. She adds, "He was extremely polite. He never uttered obscene words. He also would reproach the children in the street if they did. He always greeted people in full statements. Thus , in spite of his young age, he would say 'May Allah's peace and blessings be upon you.'

When his father had promised his martyred brother Abdel Rahim to buy him a new bike, Zaid went to his mother and asked her the same. He wanted to have a small bike suitable for his young age. However, the promise would not materialize as he had gone. His mother is now going through a very crucial psychological experience. She enquires after him and after the other members of her family while she is still bedridden in Dar El Shfa Hospital in Gaza. She does not like to return home without them. She actually cannot return home as it is no more suitable for housing after being burnt and destroyed.

Zaid's brother says that his dream was to finish his secondary education, and go to university. That was the same dream of all his mother, Sabah's children.

Zaid had refused to go with Abdel Rahim to the area of "Hawalim" which is nicknamed after the family name for fear of the occupation missiles. He preferred to remain with his father. However, the missiles got to where he was. His brother Youssuf (a 10 grade student) says that Zaid was truly exceptional and decent. At bedtime, I liked to sleep in bed between him and Abdel Rahim to feel warm and safe. Even when we had skirmishes, he quickly forgave us and never felt angry.