Gaza City, Gaza Strip — As International Mother's Day approaches, many mothers in the Gaza Strip are mourning the loss of their children amidst ongoing Israeli military operations. The conflict has escalated significantly since a Hamas attack on October 7, resulting in extensive casualties and displacement.
According to Philippines News Agency, Israel's military response to the Hamas attack has resulted in over 34,900 Palestinian deaths, the majority being women and children, and has left more than 78,500 injured. The intense military actions have devastated many families in Gaza, particularly affecting mothers who face the unbearable grief of losing their children. In Rafah, an area heavily impacted by airstrikes, numerous mothers now find themselves homeless, forced to live in tents under harsh conditions without basic utilities like water and electricity.
Hanaa Abu Jabal, a 55-year-old mother of eight from Rafah, shared her profound sorrow with the Anadolu Agency. "Losing a child for a mother means losing her soul," she said, describing the dire circumstances her family faces living in a displacement camp. "We are living in very difficult conditions. There is no water, no food, no clothes. And we are also facing the threat of genocide."
The dire situation in Rafah was emphasized by another resident, Maha Hashan, who recounted the traumatic loss of her 9-year-old son in an airstrike that also severely injured her daughter. "This war must end and we ask the countries of the world to ensure that humanitarian aid enters Gaza," Hashan stated.
Najah Al-Akkad, a 70-year-old grandmother, also spoke of her struggles after losing her son in an attack. "We migrated from place to place and finally found ourselves in this tent made of nylon. I lost my son in an Israeli attack, and now I have three grandchildren left," Al-Akkad explained, highlighting the ongoing challenges in finding essential supplies like water, medicine, and food.
The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has reported that the conflict has taken a particularly heavy toll on women, with over 10,000 killed and 19,000 injured. The agency stressed, "The war in Gaza continues to be a war on women," noting that "37 children lose their mothers every single day."