Watan-A video has circulated showing a Palestinian child who is severely burned as a result of an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, delivering a message to the Egyptian club Al-Ahly.
The child, Ali Isma’il Mushtahi, spoke during a televised interview from inside the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, saying, “I wished to wear Al-Ahly’s gloves, Al-Ahly’s shoes, and Al-Ahly’s uniform. Eventually, I ended up wearing these gloves,” referring to the bandages covering his hands due to the injuries.
He added that his role model is Al-Ahly Egyptian Club, which he loves very much. He directed a message to the club, saying, “Take me to you, along with my aunt, my cousin, and my cousin’s son. Take me to you, treat me, and let me see Mohamed El-Shenawy, my role model and the role model of everyone who loves Al-Ahly.”
He mentioned that he dreams of becoming the goalkeeper for Al-Ahly when he grows up, following in the footsteps of Mohamed El-Shenawy. He said, “I wished to wear gloves, shoes, and the uniform like El-Shenawy.”
The injured child emphasized that he dreamed of traveling to Egypt to support Al-Ahly and to train there. He continued, “Al-Ahly doesn’t just brighten our faces; it whitens them. The last time they won the African championship, they lifted our heads.”
“كنت نفسي ألبس قفازات الشناوي وزِيّ الأهلي”.. طفل مصاب في #غزة يوجه رسالة إلى النادي #الأهلي المصري#الجزيرة_مباشر | #فلسطين pic.twitter.com/3OJ9WdWaeB
— الجزيرة مباشر (@ajmubasher) December 30, 2023
Children in Gaza… The toll of occupation
Children in Gaza face difficult circumstances and a painful cost in the war waged by the Israeli army on the territory since October 7th of last year.
In addition to the thousands of martyrs, wounded, and missing children due to the savage Israeli war, those who have survived live in dire conditions.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, states that more than 80% of children in the Gaza Strip “suffer from acute malnutrition.”
It adds that at least 10,000 children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition. About 400 children are killed or injured every day in the Gaza Strip, and the rest suffer from neurological or psychological trauma.