At the Asda tourist complex in Khan Younis, the little boy climbed over a security barrier and then entered the cage of the cat, which attacked him, according to police, who have said they are investigating. .
A six-year-old child died after being bitten by a caged lioness in southern Gaza, authorities in the small Palestinian territory said on Monday.
According to a witness, the lioness bit the head of the child, who slid into the cage after finding a hole in the fence. The child was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, according to a medical source.
The Asda tourist complex is home to two cats (a lion and a lioness), as well as many birds. It was closed by authorities on Monday after the tragedy.
The “worst zoo in the world”
The town of Khan Younis is notorious for being home to what animal rights NGO Four Paws has called “the worst zoo in the world”.
Opened in 2007, this zoo closed in 2016 when the owners, struggling to get food, left many animals to starve.
The Gaza Strip, a micro-territory of 2.3 million people, suffers from a poverty rate of around 60%, exacerbated by Israel’s strict blockade since 2007.