Why are Gaza’s Children Writing Their Names on Their Bodies?
Watan – With the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, a significant presence of children has emerged in the constantly increasing toll of martyrs. Many children fall victim, either killed or injured, due to the devastating airstrikes by the Israeli military. Amid the tragic scenes of children’s deaths, a notable phenomenon has emerged: children in Gaza are writing their names on their bodies.
The act of children in Gaza doing this, aiming to facilitate identification in case they are martyred and turned into fragments, speaks volumes about their determination in confronting the aggression they face.
This striking behavior has sparked significant reactions among activists on social media platforms, who have praised the courage and resilience of Gaza’s children.
A Tunisian activist commented, “The epitome of bravery… Gaza’s children write their names on their hands to make identification easier upon their martyrdom. And strangely, they jest and laugh… May God protect them.”
A Gulf activist tweeted, “The great children of Gaza write their names on their pure hands for identification in case of their martyrdom… You have exhausted us with your absence, young heroes. We apologize for our limited capabilities, and all we can offer is prayers and financial and moral support as much as we can… There is no power or strength except with Allah.”
Another user, Mohammed, tweeted, “Children in Gaza write their names on their bodies so they can be identified if they die in an Israeli bombing… Men since childhood, they neither fear death nor know fear. What about their elders? We have learned a lot from you, children of Gaza.”
Many children in Gaza have written their names on their bodies to make identification easier if they are martyred.
The Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has so far recorded 4,651 martyrs, including 1,873 children, 1,023 women, 187 elderly, and 14,245 injured. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip stated that 70% of the victims of the Israeli war are children, women, and the elderly.
In documenting the Israeli army’s targeting of children, the global movement for the defense of children / Palestine branch stated that 120 Palestinian children are killed daily due to Israeli airstrikes. 70% of the war’s martyrs in Gaza are children and women.
The movement added that 1,688 Palestinian children have been martyred in the Gaza Strip since October 7th. In addition to 27 children in the West Bank. The numbers of those martyred, including children in the Gaza Strip, are not final, as there are about 1,400 people missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings. This indicates that the actual number of martyrs is much higher than that, according to the statement reported by Anadolu Agency.
