Devastating Loss: Majority of Children Captured in My Family Picture in Gaza Have Perished

Israel's air strikes on Gaza has resulted in the death of entire Palestinian families due to their densely populated living conditions. In one instance, more than 20 relatives of three Palestinians in the UK were killed in a single strike, with some still trapped under rubble. Among the victims was Ahmed al-Naouq's family. Four years ago, Ahmed took a family selfie, capturing the joyous moments shared by his siblings, children, and himself. However, most of them are now deceased. The strike claimed the lives of 21 family members, including Ahmed's father, three sisters, two brothers, and 14 nieces and nephews. The tragedy is not unique, as over 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Israeli bombardments, a retaliation for a Hamas attack. In the photo, only seven of the deceased children are present since some were absent or not yet born. Many Palestinians, like Ahmed's brothers, build their homes on top of their parents' homes, resulting in multiple generations being wiped out simultaneously. Ahmed's sisters and their children sought refuge in their father's house after their own residences were damaged. The strike on his family's home left Ahmed shocked, as he had believed they would be safe. Ahmed, now in London working for an NGO, hasn't seen the children since their tragic deaths, except through video calls. Before the incident, he had promised to treat them to a beach outing and had fulfilled his promise. The children had called him from the beach that day, but many of them are now deceased. Among the victims was his 13-year-old nephew Eslam, whom Ahmed knew well and wanted to emulate. Eslam's aspirations were to excel academically and learn English to relocate to the UK. Together with his sisters, cousins, and other relatives, Eslam lost his life alongside Ahmed's nieces and nephews. However, one ray of hope emerged when Ahmed discovered that his three-year-old nephew Omar had miraculously survived, along with his mother, Shimaa, after the bombing of their home. Tragically, Malak, another survivor, perished in a hospital due to insufficient medical resources. Amidst the communication blackout during the conflict, Ahmed also learned that his uncle's house had been hit, but the casualties remain unidentified. Additionally, his friends Maisara and Laura had their home struck, resulting in the death of several generations. In the United Kingdom, three individuals, including Ahmed, reported losing more than 20 family members in Gaza. Darwish al-Manaama, one of the individuals, learned about the death of his family from a WhatsApp list. Similarly, Yara Sharif, an architect and academic, discovered the demise of 20 relatives on Facebook. With two surviving cousins worried about possible repercussions, holding a funeral or grieving feels impossible. Fuel shortages hinder the rescue of survivors, furtherly complicating the situation. As Ahmed watches the news and the list of the deceased scrolls across the screen, he reveals that only 12 of his family members' bodies have been recovered, leaving nine still missing. Contacting his surviving sisters is a challenge as communication is often disrupted. Ahmed finds it challenging to articulate his feelings, explaining that his heart feels empty, and crying feels futile. He describes an overwhelming restlessness that keeps him from standing still or sleeping. Ahmed's father, a kind and hardworking man, aspired for a peaceful co-existence between Jews and Palestinians through a one-state solution. In the wake of this devastation, Ahmed ponders what his surviving nephew, Omar, will believe in the aftermath of losing so many loved ones.