GAZA, (PIC)
In a scene that is no less significant than those strong arms that bear weapons and continue to resist against the brutal Zionist aggression for 404 consecutive days without fatigue or weariness, a child in Gaza appears with the determination of a fighter, the strength of a young man, and an ambition that touches the sky.
He breaks the barriers of logic and the laws of physics, rolling up his sleeves and shouting, “Grant me strength, O Allah,” before lifting large water containers that even adults might struggle to carry. Then he walks barefoot, stepping on the gravel of the road with the dignity of a believer who has lost hope in the support and solidarity of his nation, turning to God for strength and resolve to bear the burdens of his people and family, delivering a “sip of water” that saves their lives amidst the humiliation faced by the people of Gaza in these times of Arab and Islamic degradation.
This is a picture of the heroism still being written by the children of Gaza before their elders, in the narrative of legendary resilience that has inscribed the history of dignity and glory with golden ink and letters of light for a people still enduring all forms of genocide and terror, stripped of their most basic human rights. They face tremendous horrors that have aged these children far beyond their years.
You find such children and others like them undertaking hard labor and carrying heavy burdens after the Israeli occupation army has brutally killed their fathers, older brothers, and mothers, leaving them homeless as they seek to support the remaining family members. They perform the duties of adults out of necessity, sacrificing their rights to a childhood they deserve. Despite all this, they remain steadfast in their hope that the aggression will come to an end.
A hope that does not break
A question arises in the minds of many: What has been the situation of the children in Gaza for over 400 days of Israeli aggression against the Strip?
Since the beginning of the war on October 7, 2023, we have seen children with strong bodies resisting the harshest living conditions imaginable, according to a report by Al Jazeera Net.
Children who astonish the world with their way of thinking, faith, and eloquence, as if we are witnessing strong, wise men, yet they are still children.
Children in the besieged Gaza Strip have a life experience that is completely different from that of other children around the world. They grow up quickly due to their awareness and the reality around them, as well as the experiences they endure, especially the traumatic experiences of war that cause them pain but also make them resilient, courageous, and more aware of their responsibilities.
We may empathize with them and feel pain when we see them crying, suffering from loss or injury. Yet, despite all the hardships and circumstances imposed by the occupation, they continue to live life and have never surrendered.
Terrifying numbers
The number of child martyrs in Gaza has surpassed that in conflicts worldwide over the past four years. United Nations figures show that 12,193 children were killed in conflicts around the world between 2019 and 2022.
These figures have been compared with reports from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which indicates that more than 17,385 children have been martyred in the Palestinian territory during 400 days of this genocidal war.
The Gaza Government Media Office has repeatedly called on “all free countries and international organizations to pressure the occupation and the Americans to stop the genocide and save the children.”
A very dark chapter in history
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child condemned the serious violations committed by Israel regarding the Convention on the Rights of the Child amid its war on the Gaza Strip, stating that the impact of the genocide on Gaza has been “catastrophic” for Palestinian children since October 7, 2023.
Data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza indicates that more than 41,000 people have been martyred in the Strip since Israel launched its war, with around 70% of them being children and women. The same applies to the injured, whose numbers exceed 95,000, and the missing, who exceed 12,000.
The committee described these violations as among the worst in modern history. The Vice Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, Bragi Gudbrandsson, told journalists in Geneva that “the killing of children in such a horrific manner is unprecedented, as far as I believe,” describing it as “a very dark spot in history.”
