Surviving War in Gaza, One Text Message at a Time

“Free, free, free Palestine!” “Stop-fire now!” “Each morning, I write on the group, ‘Please, are you all OK?’ That is the fourth day I’m making an attempt to achieve Mother. You already know, I come from a comparatively small household. Father. Mom. Muhammad. Reema. Reham. Mahmoud. Rula. Ruwaa. Shaimaa. My childhood reminiscences. I scent the meals that my aunts and neighbors had been cooking. And when the summer season comes and the breeze of the seaside. However now? Each day since Oct. 7, my physique is right here, however my coronary heart is linked to every considered one of my household. To this point they’re alive, however they don’t seem to be OK. Shushu is the youngest woman, and I’m the youngest boy. I form of helped elevating her. We’d at all times play collectively, and we had been form of the spoiled within the household. So Shushu and I and my mom had been at all times inseparable. There may be not a single protected place in Gaza. At any time when I learn that they bomb a home in Nuseirat or bomb a home in Maghazi or in Zawayda or Deir al Balah or Rafah, I instantly suppose, Is it my sister’s home? Is it my mother and father’ home? I by no means thought that this chat group is an important factor in my life. It breaks the information if my household is alive or not. I maintain making an attempt and praying. Attempting and pray.”