Gaza City resident says: ‘Death is everywhere. Please pray for me’
Humanitarian catastrophe looms in Palestine as one woman struggles to keep her days-old baby alive.
It’s one week since Hamas’ horrifying attacks in southern Israel.
First thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones in such terrible circumstances, and for those who have had family members kidnapped. I hope and pray for their safe return.
In addition, it’s horrific to watch an entire population being evicted from their homes. The debate about whether Israel is or is not committing war crimes is almost by the by. The humanitarian disaster has already begun, as I found out from a Gaza City resident who can be called Amina.
I’ve known Amina via email for a few years after being introduced by a friend who met her during his peace work in Palestine: she sends me articles and essays she has written, and invites me to comment on the English structure and tone, which I am happy to do, of course.
So I messaged Amina last weekend to say I was hoping she would be safe when the Israeli onslaught began. She replied: “The situation here is very difficult, there is no safe place. Pray for us.” In a second message, she added: “Am expecting to have a baby these days this makes the situation worse.”
On Friday (October 13) I messaged her to say she had to leave Gaza City, the Israelis were coming, it would be safer for her to go elsewhere.
She replied at 4.40pm in the afternoon: “I cannot go anywhere outside Gaza because this is absolutely impossible. Here we have neither water nor electricity. Death is everywhere, maybe I will be next. It is very difficult. I cannot sleep while the houses around me are all completely destroyed. My house and the neighbourhood in which I live are destroyed. 40 people and more living in one place. It’s really catastrophic. I would really appreciate your help with fundraising for me and my newborn baby. Pray for me and my family.”
And then: “The Israelis today at 12A (midnight, October 13/14) will cut the internet so I won’t be able to contact you.”
I’m hoping to be able to start a fundraiser at some point but the immediate situation is for the Israeli forces to stop bombing Gaza, declare a ceasefire, negotiate for the release of the hostages, and decide on a strategy with regard to the Palestinian people that delivers peaceful co-existence.
I pray for Amina and for her family, and hope that she will at least have water and electricity in time for her newborn baby to survive. What sort of world is it that a so-called civilised nation can behave with such barbarity and so many can shrug off the suffering that is taking place?
