Palestinian family who drowned in UK to be buried in Palestinian camp in Lebanon

A Palestinian family who tragically drowned off the coast of England last week will be laid to rest in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, according to a family member who resides there. The victims were 55-year-old Hassan Al Khawas, his wife Zeina Alayn, 37, and their 14-year-old daughter Sara. Their 6-year-old daughter, Sajad, passed away days later in a hospital.

Both parents, born in the Rashidiya refugee camp in southern Lebanon, were British citizens. The family drowned in Shoreham while struggling in the sea. Sussex Police classified the incident as a tragic accident with no involvement from a third party. A ceremony of condolences took place in London and the family's home in Rashidiya.

Hassan's brother, Jalal Al Khawas, expressed the family's desire to repatriate their remains to Lebanon, as their elderly mother wishes to see them one last time. The family had not visited Lebanon in three years due to conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which disproportionately impacts southern Lebanon. Rashidiya camp has been repeatedly targeted or damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

The family is currently holding a ceremony in their home while awaiting the arrival of the bodies. Friends from the UK have also provided emotional support to the family. The two surviving girls, Sara and Sajad, had a relatively good life with Sara attending a school in West London. Their father, Hossam, had always looked out for their neighbors.

However, Jalal is deeply concerned about the impact the tragedy may have on the children, particularly Sajad, who witnessed his father's drowning. The community in Shoreham held a vigil on the beach to honor the family, with participants carrying paddle-boards and kayaks. Sara's school also paid tribute to the "sweet" and "well-liked" student, expressing their condolences to her family and friends.