Watan – In a video that has since reverberated across social media, a young Palestinian girl, barely ten, confronts the profound loss of her mother, a victim of the recent Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
"I recognize her by her hair! Why, God, did you take her from me? I can't live without her!"
These are the words of a #Palestinian girl after the martyrdom of her mother.#Gazabombing #IsraelTerorrist pic.twitter.com/5msFZAA4sC
— Nezam Mahdawi نظام المهداوي (@NezamMahdawi) October 22, 2023
Activists have widely shared this raw footage, capturing a moment that starkly contrasts the broader narrative of the ongoing conflict. In her unmistakable anguish, the child identifies her mother not by her face, but by the intimate touch of her hair. This deeply personal revelation underscores the individual tragedies often overshadowed by the larger geopolitical strife.
As the scene unfolds, surrounding voices attempt to comfort the girl. “It’s not her,” one insists. Yet, the child, consumed by grief and recognition, collapses, exclaiming, “It’s her. I recognize her by her hair.”
Later, standing beside a man equally shaken by the events, she later implores to see her mother again. Her sorrow deepens as she lists other lost family members: her sister, grandparents, aunt, and cousins.
Gaza’s Rising Martyes Toll: Predominantly Women and Children
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Sunday a significant increase in casualties from the recent Israeli operations that commenced on October 7th. The death toll has now reached 4,651 Palestinians.
Ashraf Al-Qudra, the ministry’s spokesperson, detailed the grim statistics: “Since the onset of the operations, we’ve documented 4,651 fatalities. This includes 1,873 children, 1,023 women, and 187 old individuals. Additionally, there are 14,245 reported injuries of varying severity.”
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