JOLIERT, IL - An Illinois landlord killed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and seriously injured the boy's mother in a brutal hate crime attack after the start of the Gaza war, and was sentenced to 53 years in prison on Friday.

Joseph Czuba, 73, was convicted of murder, murder and hate crime charges in February after the injury of his mother, Hanan Shaheen.

Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Czuba to 30 years for the attack on Shahin, for another 20 consecutive years. The judge also sentenced three years in prison for hate crimes. The length of the sentence makes it almost certain that he will die in prison.

"There is no judgment that can restore the measures taken, but today's results can provide the necessary judicial measures," said Cair-Chicago executive director Ahmed Rehab. "Wadi is an innocent child. His goal is because of who he is - Muslim, Palestinian and loved."

Czuba did not speak during the sentencing. Couba's attorney Lenard declined to comment. The office of Will County State prosecutor James Glasgow issued a statement calling Kuba a "morally reprehensible killer" and the impact of his behavior was "really incredible."

The boy's uncle, Mahmoud Yousef, was the only family member to speak at the hearing. He said that no matter the length of the sentence, it was not enough. He said.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Yousef asked Czuba to explain why he attacked the boy and his mother, asking what he heard caused his voice, but Cubai did not respond.

Prosecutors said during the trial that Kuba targeted it in October 2023 because of his Islamic beliefs and responded to the war between Israel and Hamas.

Evidence at the trial includes painful testimony from Shaheen and her crazy 911 calls, as well as bloody crime scene photos and police videos. The jurors reviewed less than 90 minutes before the verdict.

The family had been renting rooms in the house in Cubai at the time of the attack, about 40 miles from Chicago.

At the heart of the prosecutor’s case was the painful testimony of the boy’s mother, who said Kuba attacked her before moving to her son, insisting that they had to leave because they were Muslims. The prosecutor also called 911 and showed police videos. Kubai's wife Mary has since divorced, and he also testified by prosecutors, saying he was excited about the Israel-Hamas war that broke out a few days ago.

Police said Kuba pulled a knife from the holder on the belt and stabbed the boy 26 times, leaving the knife in the child's body. Some of the bloody crime scene photos were so clear that the judge agreed to turn the TV screen and show them audiences, including Wadee's relatives.

"He can't escape," Will County Assistant State Attorney Michael Fitzgerald told jurors during the trial. "If the defendant killed the little boy wasn't enough, he left the knife in the little boy's body."

The jury considered for 90 minutes before returning to the verdict.

The attack has raised concerns about anti-Muslim discrimination, especially in Plainfield and surrounding suburbs, which have a large and established Palestinian community. Wadee's funeral attracted a large crowd, while Plainfield officials offered a park playground.

Shaheen had more than a dozen stabs and it took her several weeks to recover.

She said there was no problem even in her two years from the Tsar rent, even sharing the kitchen and a living room. Then, after the war began, Kubai told her that they had to move out because Muslims were not popular. Later, he faces Shahien, attacks her, holds her, stabs her, and tries to break her teeth.

"He told me 'As a Muslim, you have to die.'

Police testified that police found Czuba outside the house, sitting on the ground covered in blood on his body and hands.

In addition, lawsuits have been filed for the boy's death, including his father, Odai Alfayoumi, who divorced Shaheen and did not live with them. The U.S. Department of Justice also launched a federal hate crime investigation.

Yousef told reporters after the hearing that Czuba was Wadee's grandfather and the family did not understand the "fake news" about the Gaza war that Czuba might have heard, which led to him attacking the boy and his mother. He said people need to know Muslims before they judge Muslims.

"Some people bring this war to this country," Yusef said. "We can't do that. We can't bring this war to this country. We can't bring hate to this country... we need to stop."