Mothers of Gaza
A mother’s love for her child is one of the purest forms of love that is truly unconditional. The Mothers of Gaza are no exception.
As of November 10, WHO has reported 22 hospitals being damaged due to Israel’s bombings; it has been said that the amount of bombs dropped on Gaza is now equivalent to two nuclear bombs (Al Jazeera). Israel’s continuous war crimes make no exception to the 50,000 pregnant women suffering in Gaza.
As the death toll continues to increase in Gaza (11,500 as of November 18), and we continue to acknowledge that these are not mere numbers, we must recognize that this “number” is not inclusive. It is not inclusive of the aftermath deaths of the bombs, the slow deaths out of the 22,000 injured, the children missing and stuck under the rubble, those dying from slow burns, the deaths from the toxicity of the white phosphorus in Israel and United States bombs, the starved, and the ones who weren’t able to get the medical attention they needed.
The increasing number of C-sections for Women in Gaza due to the shortage of medical supplies leaves mothers feeling each sharp object that cuts into their already amputated bodies without anesthesia. These procedures are done with flashlights as the hospitals shake and bombs drop. The pregnant women rescued from under the rubble suffer injuries in the placenta, resulting in immediate death for either the infant, the mother, or tragically, both.
Premature birth is widespread in Gaza now, which makes the babies constantly rely on incubators, which are scarce and almost impossible to receive in this state. The blackout of electricity in hospitals leads to the babies being in imminent danger of death. 5,500 Women in Gaza are set to give birth in a nightmare of genocide.
With Gaza’s two largest hospitals- al Shifa and al Quds being closed after reaching maximum capacity and running out of fuel, dozens of premature babies were forced off their incubators. Doctors resorted to wrapping babies in foil and placing them next to hot water in a failed attempt to keep them alive.
These mothers should be wrapping their little ones in a blanket, breathing in their newborn scent, not covering them in a blanket to bury them.
As I refer to the Mothers of Gaza, I am not just referring to the pregnant women who do not have the privilege of envisioning a life raising their child; raising is a stretch, more like anticipating the next hour if either the mother or the child will live. I am also referring to the mothers who watch their children being blown to bits, the mothers who hold their children’s lifeless bodies in their hands, and the mothers who can’t recognize their children’s charred bodies; I refer to all the mothers of Gaza.
Over 52,000 infants are currently at risk of starvation, death, dehydration, and other health hazards.
The innate pain of the Mothers of Gaza is unimaginable; their ability to endure reflects the strength of maternal affection and the resolve that enables them to remain steadfast.
An ode to the Mothers of Gaza:
Maternal love knows no bounds. Your courage for the last 75 years has been a testament to unwavering resilience. Your pain is of the most intensity. We see you, and we hear you. We will never be able to understand, but our hearts bleed with yours. Just as your cries and screams for your children are thunderous, we will strive for every corner of the world to be screaming with you.
Many are dense and inhumane. Many are uneducated and indifferent. Many are ignorant and blind apologists.
We will make every effort to be louder.
Advocate. Protest. Boycott. Donate. #FreePalestine
Inspired by hurea, The Mothers of Gaza
