War on Gaza: Palestinians recall horrors of renewed Israeli bombing

Among the displaced Palestinians in Gaza, a woman stood alone, weeping, her breath short, each step a struggle. A video circulating on social media captured her grief and despair, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict.

"We found my son in the military camp, shot in the abdomen," she said in the video. "He has become a martyr, he is dead. I cannot take him or hold him. The tanks are right in front of me." She choked back tears, saying, "My beloved son, I left you alone in the street." Reportedly, her son was searching for a cart to help his family move their belongings when he was killed. Now, she can only carry all their possessions in two large garbage bags, a stark reminder of their loss.

Since Israel broke the ceasefire agreement on March 18, its renewed attacks on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 830 Palestinians, plunging people back into the horrors of war. Palestinians, who had hoped to temporarily escape sharing the tragedies of war online, have been forced to resume filming testimonies, hoping the world will see their suffering and intervene to stop the violence.

A video filmed by a Middle East Eye journalist in Gaza showed a man weeping after discovering the body of a child torn to pieces by an Israeli airstrike. "I swear to God, she is not my daughter," the man cried. "I swear to God, I don't know her. But, in God's name, I have never seen such a sight. To every person in the world who has children, please consider this child as your own." The man then transported the child's remains by bicycle to the hospital. "What was this child's crime?" he asked at the hospital. "What was her crime? May God punish everyone who remains silent," emphasizing the urgent need for global awareness and action.

Another video documented a woman mourning the death of her daughter, Aya Samri, who was killed in the Israeli bombing of the Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City. "My daughter. She stayed in my arms all night," the mother said. "May God have mercy on her. She is with the Lord now, she is with God now." Nearby, the woman's other daughter collapsed in tears. "I have no sisters anymore, I have no sisters," she cried. Her mother immediately embraced her, comforting her: "I am your mother, and your sister, my daughter." Subsequently, the girl's body was placed with other victims, and her family gathered to pray for her, seeking solace in their faith.

Alaa Abu Hilal, holding the body of his newborn son, Muhammad, who had already died, said sadly, "This is my first child, he is my whole world, my life." "My wife was born on February 20, and my son was also born on February 20. My wife was martyred on March 19, and my son was also martyred on March 19." Abu Hilal had hoped to place his wife and son in a relatively safe area of Gaza so that they could escape the disaster. However, he soon received a call that the tent where they were sheltering had been bombed. His son was only 13 months old, and his wife was pregnant with their second child. Abu Hilal choked back tears, repeatedly kissing his son's forehead, trying to speak. "He was a very lovely and smart child," he said. "I had just started a family. I wanted to build a life with my wife, have children. Even during the war, we wanted to start a family, but it's all impossible now," highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on families and their aspirations.