Palestinian children in Gaza are dreaming of an end to the war following the devastation caused by 100 days of Israeli aggression. These children long for peace, a return to their daily lives, and the simple reassurance of going to school and having consistent access to food and water, without the struggle that came with being displaced along with their families to camps lacking the most basic necessities of life.
Al Jazeera Mubasher channel released a video capturing the sentiments of Gaza’s children. With the profound statement, “Everything is gone,” encapsulated the innocence of Gaza’s youth.
“Everything is gone”… Children of Gaza after 100 days of aggression#aljazeera_mubasher | #Gaza
— Al Jazeera Mubasher (@ajmubasher) January 15, 2024
The children of Gaza are enduring extreme suffering that worsens with each passing day due to the war led by the Israeli occupation, which has resulted in a significant number of deaths, mostly targeting the most vulnerable: the children with heavy shelling of homes, schools, and hospitals.
A video shared by journalist Hassan Islayeh received significant interaction on social media platforms. The video featured a Palestinian woman holding a baby girl, born on October 7th, coinciding with the outbreak of the Israeli war in Gaza, and sharing the newborn’s experiences amidst the ongoing conflict in the territory.
A Palestinian child was born on October 7th, coincident with the sparks of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.
— Hassan Islayeh | Hassan (@hassaneslayeh) January 15, 2024
An Instagram video showcased a young boy from Gaza “telling the world his wish” against the soundtrack of bombings: “I want to live in freedom.”
A contrasting perspective was offered by the child, Abu Jazar, who posted a video on Instagram from in front of a demolished building in Gaza, captioning it with hopeful words, “100 days after the unjust aggression against us, and despite the great pain we live through, there is a message of reassurance from God Almighty: ‘Indeed, the victory from Allah is near’.”
Even after more than 100 days of Israeli aggression on Gaza, painful scenes continue to emerge unceasingly since October 7th, resulting in the martyrdom of over 24,200 Palestinians, 70% of whom are women and children.
The international organization Save the Children stated on January 11, 2024, that the Israeli aggression has taken the lives of 10,000 Palestinian children, which equates to an average of 100 children dying daily in the territory due to bombardment and the untenable situation of the children in this conflict.
UNICEF spokesperson Alexandra Merdoch also conveyed the grim statistics that thousands of children have lost their lives within the 100 days of war, with over 1,000 of them suffering limb amputations.
