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Carlos Chávez, a volunteer from Quito, Ecuador, was working in the potato fields of Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, near the central Gaza Strip, about 100 meters from the perimeter fence. He and his compatriot, David Lanas, had stopped for a snack when the firing began. They ran for cover, but Carlos was struck by a bullet in the back. He managed to say, "Los muy malditos me dieron en la espalda" (the bastards shot me in the back) before collapsing in David’s arms. He was taken to the kibbutz infirmary by a Magen David Adom team, where he died of his wounds. "It’s tough for us to receive news like this," said Annie Rotman, who is responsible for the kibbutz’s volunteers. Carlos had come to the kibbutz two months ago, in November. "Only yesterday, we spoke with him, laughed with him." Carlos had heard about Israel and Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha, established by immigrants from South America in the 1950s, from a relative who had visited there, and he was eager to go because he wanted to study abroad. He was to have celebrated his 21st birthday on January 20. The news of Carlos’ death was conveyed to his sister Diana Mosquera in Quito. She described her brother as a happy, vivacious person who was never still, and who loved life and soccer. He had planned on remaining in Israel for a year, where he hoped to perfect his English, and then go on to university studies. "His dream was to know about the world. He was at the age when all he wanted to do is travel," Diana said. Carlos’ body will be flown home for burial in Quito. He is survived
by his parents, Carlos Alfredo and Gloria de las Mercedes, his
sister Diana and his grandparents. |
