OP-ed Gaza

This was written and send in to the NRC (Dutch newspaper) in march 2024, but not published.

Empathy is the ability to experience the pain of others as if it were your own. With every heartbreaking image coming from Gaza, I feel the fear, the loss, and the injustice that prevails there as if they were my own loved ones.

My heart broke for Hind Rajab, the six-year-old girl who sat in a car with her murdered family members and called the ambulance to please come save her. But she and the ambulance crew were murdered by Israel. Crying, I wondered if my six-year-old nephew would know how to dial 911.

The tragic stories of Palestinian women like Rania Abu Anza, who finally had twins after 10 years only to lose them five months later due to the bombings.

This is a reality we must not ignore. We know the names thanks to the courageous journalists from Gaza, like 9-year-old Lama Jamous, who had to leave her school desks for the harsh life of a conflict zone.This is a humanitarian crisis that deserves our attention and action. Innocent lives are being lost, and we can no longer remain silent. Therefore, join me in calling loudly for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.