Gaza: Whispers of the Shattered Sky

Chapter 5

Chapter - 5

Mohammad Alotal

Mohammad was a software developer. Full of life and energetic. A soft smile was always there on his face no matter how busy and stressed he was. Mohammad graduated in developing software from Manana's S22 cohort. He was a loving son, a very good father, and a devoted husband. Among his family and friends, he never let down anyone in any way.

Mohammad was highly ambitious and he loved learning new skills. At work Mohammad was exceptional. He aimed at mobile development using Flutter. He built many mobile apps. He was very creative and his work was what he adored. He was always thinking of something new and creative. His software designs were praised a lot.

Mohammad was killed (embraced martyrdom) along with his wife and three children due to the bombing of their home in Gaza on October 24, 2023.

Mohmoud Abushawish

Mahmoud Abushawish was a positive, bright, and creative human being. He was full of life and was highly innovative. He graduated from Startups Without Borders in collaboration with the Boost Without Border Programme.

He was the founder of "Torood", a tech startup that supported and transformed the stores in Gaza. He made e-commerce a reality for Gaza. Mahmoud launched his startup in a highly challenging environment. Many obstacles blocked his way but he never gave up hope and finally, he made his startup possible. He had high aims and dreams. He wanted to bring prosperity to the lives of the people of Gaza. His positive impact and contributions will live on as his legacy.

He was not only an extraordinary brilliant human being but also a loving and caring son, husband, and father. he was always backing up his friends and even colleagues.

He was determined to change Gaza stores by introducing a bright future to them through e-commerce.

Mahmoud was killed in the bombing of his home and residential complex in Gaza with many members of his family. He is survived by his wife and children.

Ayoub Abu Lebda

An intelligent and prominent student of Al-Aqsa University. He excelled in his academic career beyond the shadow of a doubt. A young, handsome man, with lots of hopes and dreams. He was in love with his homeland Gaza, and wanted it to improve for the betterment of people. Like all Palestinian people, he was hoping too that one day he would see the end of the siege of Gaza and his motherland would gain its sovereignty.

Despite all the challenges, he continued his education and lived every day better than yesterday. After finishing his education he focused on finding a good job to support himself and his family. Hardshps and lack of opportunities stopped his way too just like a lot of others in Gaza. Due to unfavorable circumstances, lack of opportunities, and above all no freedom of life in the occupied territory.

His home was in the Al-Burej refugee camp which stretched into the heart of the Gaza Strip. Besides all the highs and lows of life, Ayoub was going with the flow of life and was a beloved, dutiful son, husband, and father plus a respected and caring person in society.

On 4 December 2023, a tragic airstrike in Gaza took away his life (embraced martyrdom) along with his wife, children, siblings, and parents.

Young Live and Their Lost Dreams

The children of Gaza are scared and numb by the brutality and tragedy they have weathered. The suffering and pain is imprinted on their minds who managed to survive in uncertain, unimaginable, possible, impossible ways. Still, they have to deal with all these feelings on their own.

This is a try to see their lives, thoughts, and minds by chasing and being part of their stories in some way.

Julia is a child only four years old. An airstrike on Deir-Al-Balah killed (martyred) both her parents and Julia was left orphaned. Civil Defense Workers rescued her from the rubble.

Julia a minor, innocent beautiful child who didn't know the meaning of life had to face unimaginable pain and grief. The impact of this grief will take a deeper dig on her, and her mental health. When she grows up and understands what happened to her, and her family.

This story is like thousands of other stories of orphaned children whose parents died in the war and who had nothing to do with this conflict. Orphaned children are at risk of having a rough life if their needs are not met and they are not taken into proper care. They may never know what a normal family and home is. They have lost the love of their family, parents, and siblings.

The need is to end this cruel cycle which is eating away the lives and happiness of so many children right away. I don't know how to say it...but let that sink in... right in front of the world's eye, so many kids are now orphaned in Gaza in less than 3 months.

Many kids ask their care providers when will they return to their schools. Others ask for their parents and siblings. Thousands of kids are injured, and hundreds lost one limb of theirs or more....when will this end?

I look forward and pray for that day to come sooner than ever.

Documenting adult grief is something very disturbing but documenting children's pain, loss and grief is unimaginable.

At times when I am writing this, I can't hold back my tears. While writing these stories, I re-live these people, and their lives in my mind. I visualize whatever I document and sometimes this visualization becomes unbearable sorrowful and tragic for me too. I kind of can't wrap my head around all this even now. Someone it feels like it can't be true, it must be just a bad dream and once I'll open my eyes it'll all be gone, but sadly it is not the case.

These innocent civilians are part of all of us. As we all make the global community. Therefore it is important to know, share, and narrate these stories to one another. Plea for the broken-hearted families who lost their loved ones, their last words, and wishes who passed away, are a reminder for the world not to forget them and not to forget what happened to them. Their stories echo through the power corridors of the world. And demand, no more bloodshed just peace and stability.

The Premature Lives Lost in Gaza

In the hospitals, many premature babies and infants struggled to stay alive till their last breath. Infants that bring joy, feelings of new life, and hope, and are called treasures of blessings faced unimaginable horror since 7 October, 2023. Many infants didn't make it. Who did, they succumb to infections, diseases, and malnutrition. Their frail existence was challenged in multiple ways in this tragic turmoil. Parents of these kids suffered unfathomable loss and tragedy if they survived the airstrikes, bombardment, and ground operation in Gaza.

Doctors who attended them had tormented hearts seeing and attending to all the tragedies they saw unfolding right in front of their eyes.

Imagine the moments of the tragic demise of every person, premature baby, Infant, child, woman, man, they/them, and elderly who tragically died.

Imagine those who had to go with the burials of unidentified bodies they knew or didn't know. Because countless bodies were in such bad condition after being under the rubble by airstrikes and bombardments, that they'd become unrecognizable.

Burial of people in mass graves!!

Imagine the trauma of those who did these burials and who survived to feel the endless pain. Yet help save what they can, who they can, in the midst of such sorrow.

It's important to ask them "Are You OK"!! "Are They Fine"!!

They need to know that they are not alone and that their voices are being heard. For them, its like the whole world is coming to an end.

As the world bears witness to this harrowing reality. An urgent plea to amplify the voices and stories of innocent civilians is a must. To know what bitter and brutal they witnessed is a must.

Journalist Adel Zaarab

Journalist Adel Zaarab was a hard-working, dedicated journalist. To him, his work was not just passion but was like a prayer. He always wanted to be the first one to document news when it happened. His love for his homeland Gaza and devotion towards the people of Gaza was unmatchable.

For his family and friends, his presence was a blessing, safety, and courage. His commitment to his work was remarkable.

His fellow journalists tell about him, those moments before his martyrdom he was talking about those 95 Journalists who lost their lives since 7, October 2023 because of Israeli air strikes and ground operations.

Knowing so how hard and dangerous circumstances were to report from Gaza he humbly submitted his last second to his motherland and its people.

Adel was the 96th Journalist who lost his life in Gaza.

He and eight other people of his family got killed (embraced martyrdom) in Gaza after his home was targeted with several others in Gaza on December 18, 2023.

Dr.Yasser Radwan

A noble, humble, down-to-earth human. Dr.Yasser always believed in infusing values in his kids. He was loved by his family, kids, friends and colleagues. He worked very hard to make his name to provide his children the best he could. He gave high importance to his children's studies, wanted their academic and career life to be most vibrant and delightful.

Dr.Yasser moved to Deir-al-Balah thinking it to be a safe area according to the announcement of the Israeli army. His belief that where he was moving with his kids would be safe for them wronged him.

On December 19, 2023, Dr.Yaseer along with his kids was killed (embraced martyrdom) because of an airstrike on their home.

He is survived by his one son Youssef who was studying at the University of Egypt. Youssef who adored his father and family, was living a carefree life as children and boys do. When parents address and take care of all their needs. After his parent's death and the tragic demise of her entire family Youssef's life has changed in an instant. He now has to take care of himself and his studies along with getting habitual living with the grief of losing his whole family. May God give him peace of mind and ease.

These stories in which children or young men and women remain as survivors of families are beyond words heartbreaking. Those who die do not die alone....their loved ones who remember them also die countless times in one life.