Gaza Girl's Heartbreaking Plea: 'They Stole Our Childhood'

Gaza's Children: A Stolen Childhood. The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had a devastating impact on the lives of countless children in Gaza. One such child is Dima Abdelhadi, a young girl who shared her heartbreaking story with Middle East Eye. "They stole our childhood, what did we do to deserve this?" she asked, her voice filled with anguish. Dima's daily life is a constant struggle for survival. She wakes up at 6 a.m. to collect water for her family, carrying heavy containers without any transportation. "Our hands and backs ache from it," she explained. She also searches for firewood under rubble, putting herself in danger. Even at night, fear is her constant companion, leading her and her siblings to huddle together on a single mattress. Despite these hardships, Dima finds moments of solace in drawing and crafting jewelry with her sisters. They sell their creations to help buy food for their family. Dima's story is a stark reminder of the human cost of this prolonged conflict, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a call for international attention to the plight of Gaza's children.