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Oct 16 โ€ข 14 tweets โ€ข 11 min read โ€ข Read on X
๐Ÿงต ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜€: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜‡๐—ฎ โ™€๏ธ

In Gaza, where every day is a battle for survival, there exists a hidden crisis,
one that is felt deeply by women who are facing unimaginable hardships. The
brutal genocide has left thousands of women trapped in a cycle of violence,
displacement, and deprivation, with nowhere to turn for safety. As Gazaโ€™s
health system collapses under the strain of relentless bombing and blockades,
women, especially pregnant women, are bearing the heaviest burden. Whatโ€™s
often overlooked in the daily updates on the destruction is the severe toll this
conflict is taking on their health, their lives, and, crucially, the future of their
children.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—น๐—ฒ: ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ธ

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has placed pregnant women in an impossible
position. Many were forced to flee their homes due to the unceasing
bombardment, seeking refuge in overcrowded spaces or makeshift tents. Yet,
even within these temporary shelters, they were not safe. Asmaa Ahmed, a 31-
year-old mother describes the terror of giving birth in the middle of the night
in a Gaza City school that had no electricity. โ€œI was very, very afraid to lose the
baby,โ€ she recalls. With no access to proper medical equipment and only the
dim light of a mobile phone to guide the doctorโ€™s hands, the birth of her son
was just one of many similar stories. This isnโ€™t simply a crisis; itโ€™s a fight for
survival.

Across Gaza, approximately 52,000 pregnant women were facing
overwhelming challenges. Their lives, and the lives of their babies, are at risk
every single day. The lack of adequate maternal care, coupled with a scarcity of
clean sanitary products like pads, means these women are struggling in ways
that most can barely imagine. Pregnancy in Gaza has transformed into a
perilous journey, with miscarriage rates rising sharply and maternal mortality
spiking. Doctors and nurses, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patients, are

forced to work in makeshift hospitals or even on the streets to assist with
deliveries in conditions that should be considered unthinkable.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜

In Gaza, hospitals have been either destroyed or are operating far below
capacity. According to the United Nations, only a fraction of Gazaโ€™s hospitals
were functioning at all, with many lacking the necessary equipment to support
a safe delivery. These hospitals are devoid of incubators for premature babies,
painkillers for new mothers, and even basic medications for complications like
infections. Instead, women are often told to bring their own mattresses and
sheets just to secure a place to lie down. For many, giving birth on unsanitary
floors or in temporary shelters is their only option.

The lack of resources has led to an alarming increase in infections,
malnutrition, and psychological trauma. Many women suffer from the stress of
constant bombardment, compounded by food and water shortages.
Malnutrition, dehydration, and exhaustion are making an already dangerous
situation even worse, resulting in low birth weights, stillbirths, and even deaths
that could have been prevented under normal circumstances. Whatโ€™s worse is
that postpartum care is virtually non-existent. Women are forced to return to
their shelters, to the rubble of their former lives, with no medical support to
guide them through the critical recovery period.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฐ ๐—ฆ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ

Beyond childbirth, menstruation and hygiene remain critical yet entirely
overlooked issues. In the absence of sanitary pads, many women and girls are
left with no choice but to use makeshift materials to manage their periods,
posing severe health risks. Infections have become all too common due to
unsanitary conditions, and the physical and emotional toll on these women is
heartbreaking. For pregnant women, the lack of access to basic care, such as
prenatal vitamins and sanitary products, only compounds the risks to their
babies.

For women like Rose Hindawi, who was pregnant with triplets, the scarcity of
even basic food has left her weak and dizzy. โ€œSince the war broke out, Iโ€™ve had
a meal with enough protein just once,โ€ she says. The mental anguish of not
being able to properly care for herself, and, by extension, her babies, is nearly
unbearable.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—•๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ต ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฎ ๐—š๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—จ๐—ป๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฒ

The situation for pregnant women in Gaza is bleak. Those who do manage to
carry their pregnancies to term face the terrifying reality of childbirth in
conditions of severe deprivation, with no medical assistance, and in unhygienic
surroundings. Children born in Gaza today enter a warzone, where survival is a
daily struggle, and the basic right of women to give birth in safety is being
denied. Whatโ€™s happening in Gaza is a genocidal crisis, one that leaves an
entire generation of children facing a future marked by trauma, suffering, and
survival amidst the devastation.

The dire food insecurity affecting nearly 95% of pregnant women in Gaza
means many of them are going hungry, further endangering the health of their
babies. The World Health Organisation has reported that nearly a quarter of
Gazaโ€™s population is at risk of starvation, with the worst impact being felt by
pregnant and breastfeeding women. The starvation tactics being used
deliberately blocking vital aid and resources have led to widespread
malnutrition, further threatening the health of both mothers and their babies.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ๐˜€ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐˜† ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜‡๐—ฎ ๐——๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜

Pregnancy should be a time of hope, a moment of anticipation for new life. But
for many women in Gaza, this period is marked by fear, uncertainty, and
unimaginable hardship. Since the outbreak of violence in 2023, pregnant
women have faced ongoing unparalleled challenges in accessing basic
necessities like clean water, proper healthcare, and adequate nutrition. These
challenges are further exacerbated by the constant stress of living in a
warzone, where displacement, lack of safety, and a devastating shortage of
medical resources have made even the simplest acts, like giving birth or caring
for a newborn, into life-threatening struggles.Image
๐—”๐—ฐ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—–๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ: ๐—” ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฎ๐—น

One of the greatest challenges faced by pregnant women in Gaza is access to
clean water, a basic necessity that many of us take for granted. Israa Mazen
Diab al-Ghul, 30, shared her harrowing experience of struggling to find clean
water during her pregnancy. โ€œMy husband spent hours every day trying to find
clean water, but sometimes he failed,โ€ she said. During one particularly
desperate time in early 2024, her family had to drink seawater for 48 hours. โ€œI

vomited and was terrified it would harm my baby,โ€ she recounted. โ€œI prayed
that the war would end before I gave birth. Eventually, I started begging God to
take my baby, so I wouldnโ€™t have to give birth during the war.โ€

This is not an isolated story. Access to clean water is urgent and widespread
problem for many families in Gaza, especially for vulnerable groups like
pregnant women and children. The spread of waterborne diseases, including
hepatitis A, has been rampant, and Dr. Naela Masri from Khan Younis shared
that many of her pregnant patients have contracted hepatitis A due to the
appalling lack of sanitation, sometimes leading to miscarriage.Image
๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€: ๐— ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€, ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—บ ๐—•๐—ถ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ต๐˜€, ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜

The healthcare situation in Gaza is now critical. Hospitals are overcrowded,
under-resourced, and struggling to provide even the most basic care.
Miscarriages and stillbirths have become tragically common since the conflict
began. Dr. Ayoub from al-Sahaba Maternity Hospital reports a shocking rise in
miscarriage rates, with injuries sustained from military attacks often
contributing to the deaths of mothers and babies alike. Shahad al-Qutaiti, a 23-
year-old woman, was seven months pregnant when an Israeli airstrike hit her
apartment. She sustained severe injuries and lost her pregnancy within hours.

Preterm births have also risen, as the constant stress and trauma of living
through a war take a heavy toll on the bodies of pregnant women. Dr. Masri
observed many babies born underweight in her hospital, an indication of the
immense strain on mothers in Gaza. With the healthcare system overwhelmed,
incubators are in short supply, and some babies must share them, further
increasing the risk of infection.Image
๐—” ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ธ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ผ๐˜€๐˜๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ก๐˜‚๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป

Once theyโ€™ve given birth, many women face yet another hurdle: a lack of
proper postnatal care. Overcrowded hospitals and an overstretched healthcare
system mean that new mothers are often discharged quickly, leaving them
without adequate support or guidance during a critical period. This lack of care
can lead to serious complications for both the mother and the newborn.

Nutrition is another pressing issue. Breastfeeding, already challenging under
normal circumstances, has become even more difficult in Gaza. Many mothers
face additional stress, inadequate nutrition, and a shortage of clean water, all
of which impede their ability to feed their babies. For those unable to

breastfeed, formula feeding becomes a risky option, since access to clean
water for mixing formula is extremely limited. Abdulhafith al-Khalidi, a local
resident, shared how babies in his family have suffered from digestive issues
and fevers due to the contaminated water they had access to. Tragically, some
babies are even dying from malnutrition and dehydration, as families struggle
to provide adequate care.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐˜€๐˜†๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ผ๐—น๐—ผ๐—ด๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ง๐—ผ๐—น๐—น ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐˜† ๐——๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ด ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ฟ

The psychological impact of living through a war while pregnant is devastating
and often overlooked. The constant fear of attacks, the trauma of
displacement, and the crushing uncertainty of survival take a severe toll on
mental health. Ridana Zukhra, 25, described the exhaustion she felt while
pregnant and caring for her family amidst the chaos of the conflict. โ€œI couldnโ€™t
rest. I carried my breastfeeding baby and my injured daughter, one on each
side,โ€ she said. โ€œI told myself I had to handle everything on my own.โ€

The emotional burden on women in Gaza, particularly those who have been
displaced, is overwhelming. According to a survey conducted by UN Women in
In March and April 2024, 75% of women reported feeling depressed, while 65%
often had nightmares, and 62% suffered from sleep disturbances. These
mental health issues are compounded by a near-total lack of mental health
services, resources that have become even scarcer as the conflict continues.
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ณ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐— ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต

It is well-documented that armed conflict has severe and long-lasting effects
on maternal and child health. A global study on maternal and child health
found that women and children living in conflict zones face significantly higher
risks of death and poor health outcomes compared to those living in peaceful
settings. Exposure to violence, trauma, and extreme stress is linked to a range
of devastating birth outcomes, including miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth
weight, and long-term developmental issues for children.

In Gaza, the impact of the ongoing situation is being felt acutely. Pregnant
women and new mothers are suffering from a triple burden of physical injury,
emotional distress, and a severe lack of healthcare. The blockade and the
restrictions on humanitarian aid have only deepened the crisis, leaving families
without the support they need to navigate the overwhelming challenges of
pregnancy and childbirth.
๐—œ๐—ป๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—น ๐—›๐˜‚๐—บ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ถ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—Ÿ๐—ฎ๐˜„ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป

Under international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions,
pregnant women and young children are entitled to special protection in times
of armed conflict. Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal obligation to
ensure the civilian population, including pregnant women, receives adequate
food, water, and medical supplies. This includes ensuring the provision of
medical care and transportation, and facilitating evacuation when necessary.
Yet, under the current conflict, these obligations have been shamefully
ignored, and it is pregnant women and children who are paying the ultimate
price.
๐—” ๐—–๐—ฎ๐—น๐—น ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐—”๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—น๐—ฑ ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—จ๐—ฝ

This crisis is one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our time, and it
demands immediate attention. The international community cannot simply
stand by while pregnant women in Gaza are forced to give birth without basic
care, menstruating without pads, and living in constant fear. The war on Gaza
is not just a war on territory; it is a war on women, a war on their ability to
nurture life, and a war that denies them their fundamental rights.

We must demand action. Humanitarian aid must reach Gaza without
obstruction, and the world must hold those responsible for this atrocity to
account. The suffering of pregnant women and new mothers in Gaza is a crisis
that cannot be ignored. Their courage, their strength, and their resilience in
the face of unimaginable conditions should inspire us all to fight for their rights
and for the future of their children.

The hidden crisis in Gaza is not just one of war; it is a war against women,
against their right to life, dignity, and to give birth in safety. The time for action
is now, before more lives are lost in the shadows of this genocide.
๐™๐™๐™ž๐™จ ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™ก๐™ช๐™™๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™ฉ๐™๐™ง๐™š๐™–๐™™.
๐™๐™๐™–๐™ฃ๐™  ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช! โค๏ธ

๐˜ผ๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™๐™ค๐™ง:
@Manie_kr

Blog link:gazagreatminds.org/the-hidden-criโ€ฆ

Donate: donate.stripe.com/3cs03SdcraNo38โ€ฆ

Website: gazagreatminds.org

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Oct 9
๐Ÿงต ๐๐š๐ฅ๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐š๐ง ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐‡๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ ๐ž๐ฌ: ๐Ž๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐‘๐ž๐š๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ƒ๐ž๐ญ๐ž๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

In Gaza and the West Bank, the detention of children by occupation forces has become a devastating, yet ongoing reality. Every year, hundreds of Palestinian minors, some as young as 10, are arrested, detained. The most common charge is stone-throwing, often in response to the occupation and its violent repercussions. However, these children face far more than legal punishment; they endure physical and psychological abuse that leaves indelible marks on their lives.Image
๐˜ผ ๐™Ž๐™ฎ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ข ๐™ค๐™› ๐˜ผ๐™—๐™ช๐™จ๐™š: ๐™๐™๐™š ๐™๐™š๐™–๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™‹๐™–๐™ก๐™š๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™–๐™ฃ ๐˜พ๐™๐™ž๐™ก๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ

According to organisations such as Defence for Children International โ€“ Palestine (DCIP), the routine detention of Palestinian children by occupational forces is a severe violation of international law. The conditions under which these minors are held are both shocking and inhumane. Children are subjected to isolation, physical abuse, and psychological torment. Often for prolonged periods, with little regard for their well-being or rights. This system of abuse is not a series of isolated incidents but a part of a larger, systematic practice of oppression.

๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™œ๐™ง๐™–๐™™๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™„๐™ฃ๐™๐™ช๐™ข๐™–๐™ฃ๐™š ๐˜พ๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™™๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ: ๐™๐™ค๐™ง๐™˜๐™š๐™™ ๐™Ž๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฅ ๐™Ž๐™š๐™–๐™ง๐™˜๐™๐™š๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐˜ฟ๐™š๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐Ÿ‘‡
๐™๐™๐™š ๐™Ž๐™ฉ๐™ค๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™ค๐™› ๐™„๐™—๐™ง๐™–๐™๐™ž๐™ข ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™Š๐™ข๐™–๐™ง

One particularly harrowing example of this is the story of two young cousins, Ibrahim Abu Ghali, aged seven, and Omar Mohammed Dirar Zaben, aged 13. They were detained by occupation forces during a raid on their family home in the northern West Bank in March 2025. The occupation forces arrived in the early hours of the morning, shooting live rounds outside the house, trapping the family inside.

Ibrahim and Omar were forcibly stripped of their clothing, their hands bound with plastic ties, and they were made to stand outside in the cold for nearly an hour before being thrown into the back of a military vehicle. The boys, traumatised and frightened, were taken to an occupation interrogation centre, where they endured further humiliation and abuse. For children as young as Ibrahim, who should be in the care and protection of their families, this experience was nothing short of torture.
Read 15 tweets
Sep 25
๐Ÿงต ๐——๐—ฟ. ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ณ๐—ฎ ๐—˜๐—น๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜€๐—ฟ๐—ถ: ๐—” ๐—ฃ๐—ถ๐—น๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป๐—ด๐˜๐—ต, ๐—›๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ, ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—Ÿ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐˜† ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜‡๐—ฎโ€™๐˜€ ๐—–๐—ต๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฑ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ป

The news of Dr. Mustafa Elmasriโ€™s passing deeply saddened me. He was not only a pillar for the community but also an icon who left an indelible mark on Gaza, especially in the lives of its children. His work, dedication, and bravery in the face of overwhelming adversity have inspired so many. His legacy lives on in ways we could never have imagined.

Dr. Elmasri was not just a psychologist; he was a pillar of support for countless children who had been scarred by the horrors of war. His tireless efforts in providing psychological support to children living under occupation were invaluable. He used creative methods, such as art therapy, to help these children express their trauma and start the healing process. His ability to understand the human psyche and combine it with therapeutic techniques made him a true pioneer in his field.Image
๐™’๐™๐™ค ๐™’๐™–๐™จ ๐˜ฟ๐™ง. ๐™ˆ๐™ช๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™›๐™– ๐™€๐™ก๐™ข๐™–๐™จ๐™ง๐™ž?

Dr. Mustafa Elmasri was a Palestinian psychiatrist, educator, and advocate who dedicated his life to supporting the children of Gaza. After receiving his medical degree from Alexandria University and a psychiatry degree in 1996 from Ain Shams University in Egypt, Dr. Elmasri began his career as a psychiatrist. He started working at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, where he served as a clinical psychiatrist, researcher, and clinical supervisor.

His professional background was vast and far-reaching, Dr. Elmasri worked in several developing countries, designing and implementing psychosocial and mental health programmes aimed at helping children, women, and adults exposed to trauma from war, conflict, and political violence. His expertise wasnโ€™t just rooted in theory; it was grounded in real-world experience, dealing with some of the most vulnerable populations affected by war.

In Gaza, his work focused on providing psychological care to children who had witnessed unimaginable violence. Recognising that many children in Gaza were unable to process their emotions verbally, Dr. Elmasri often used art as a tool for therapy. By encouraging children to draw their feelings, he helped them communicate their pain, fears and hopes in a way that words could not.

Though not an artist himself, Dr. Elmasri understood the therapeutic power of art and used it as a means to help children heal from their traumatic experiences. His workshops provided a safe space for children to express themselves and begin to understand their emotions in a supportive environment.Image
๐™ƒ๐™ž๐™จ ๐™’๐™ค๐™ง๐™  ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™„๐™ข๐™ฅ๐™–๐™˜๐™ฉ ๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™‚๐™–๐™ฏ๐™–โ€™๐™จ ๐˜พ๐™๐™ž๐™ก๐™™๐™ง๐™š๐™ฃ

He recognised that the trauma children experienced from war wasnโ€™t just physical but emotional and psychological, often manifesting in ways that were difficult for others to understand. By using art, he gave these children an outlet to express their inner world.

Through drawing and other creative methods, children who had witnessed unimaginable violence were able to release their trauma, giving them a sense of agency and control over their own healing process. His work made an extraordinary impact on the lives of so many children in Gaza. These therapeutic sessions were often the only place where children could be free to express their pain and grief without fear of judgment or further violence. For many, it was a crucial step in moving toward recovery and finding hope for the future.Image
Read 8 tweets
Aug 28
๐Ÿงต ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐…๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ญ๐ญ๐ž๐ง ๐ˆ๐ง๐ง๐จ๐œ๐ž๐ง๐œ๐ž: ๐†๐š๐ณ๐šโ€™๐ฌ ๐Ž๐ซ๐ฉ๐ก๐š๐ง๐ฌ

In Gaza, a tragedy of unimaginable scale continues to unfold, one that haunts the very heart of humanity. Since October 7, 2023, Israelโ€™s brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip has left a trail of devastation. Thousands of lives have been lost. Amid the wreckage and rubble, one group stands out in its grief and loss: the children. Gazaโ€™s children, born into a life already shadowed by hardship, have now faced the wrath of a genocide they did nothing to deserve.Image
๐Ÿง’ ๐˜ผ ๐™‚๐™š๐™ฃ๐™š๐™ง๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐™‡๐™ค๐™จ๐™ฉ ๐™ฉ๐™ค ๐™’๐™–๐™ง

More than 17,000 children are currently separated from their families in Gaza, their innocence shattered by the brutality of war. Among them, at least 38,000 have been orphaned. This staggering figure speaks to a far deeper crisis than simply the loss of life. It speaks to the loss of futures, of potential, of the bright smiles that should have lit up Gazaโ€™s streets. Now, those smiles have been replaced with tears of unimaginable sorrow.Image
Among those lost, the numbers are heart breaking: 825 babies, deprived of their first breath of life outside the womb; 895 one-year-olds, never given the chance to take their first steps. Over 3,200 children aged two to five, whose worlds were meant to be full of play, laughter, and learning, are now gone. More than 4,000 children aged six to 10, their schoolbooks and dreams never fully realised.

Then there are the middle schoolers, 3,646 children aged 11 to 14, who had already survived three wars but were not spared the violence of the fourth. Finally, 2,949 teenagers aged 15 to 17, whose dreams of independence and future ambitions were brutally cut short. The statistics are gut-wrenching. Of the children who perished, 8,899 were sons, and 6,714 were daughters, each of them, a story of life cut short, a life that should have been filled with joy, education, and hope.Image
Read 9 tweets
Jun 29
๐Ÿงต ๐—ฅ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ธ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ข๐—น๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—ง๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜† ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฎ ๐—ง๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟโ€™๐˜€ ๐—จ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ต๐—ฎ๐—ธ๐—ฎ๐—ฏ๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ผ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜‡๐—ฎ

In a land where life constantly tests your spirit, where mornings begin with smoke instead of sunlight, and where survival has become a daily mission, one woman stands tall, unwavering, rooted like an ancient olive tree.

My name is Doaa Ibrahim Al-Minawi, and I am a mathematics teacher at Gaza Great Minds School. I am also a mother, a daughter of a martyr, a sister to a martyr, and a woman who refuses to let despair define her story.Image
Growing up, I watched my father, Professor Ibrahim Al-Minawiteach with passion and purpose. He wasnโ€™t just a teacher; he was a beacon of wisdom and compassion. Even after he was killed, he remained my guide. In every step I take, I still hear his voice. I chose to study at the Islamic University of Gaza in his honor, carrying forward the light he sparked in our home.

But life before this war is nothing like life after.Image
Now, each day begins before dawn. I wake to a home without electricity or running water, a kitchen without gas. I knead dough, wash clothes by hand, cook over open flames and all while preparing to teach. My mornings begin with smoke in my lungs just to make a cup of milk for my children. I ration the little bread we have, slicing it carefully so they have something anything to take with them.

And then, I teach. Not just lessons in numbers and logic, but lessons in resilience, hope, and dignity.

As both a mother and a teacher, I divide my heart. My students are my children, and my children are my students. I plan their lessons, their dreams, their futures, even when mine feels uncertain.

I carry silent fears: the fear of loss, the fear of another loved one taken too soon. Iโ€™ve already buried my father. Iโ€™ve already buried my sister. I donโ€™t know if I can survive another grave.Image
Read 5 tweets
Feb 16
๐Ÿงต ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—›๐—ถ๐—ฑ๐—ฑ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—–๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜€: ๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฎ๐—ฟ ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐˜๐—ฟ๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—น๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—Ÿ๐—ถ๐—ณ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—š๐—ฎ๐˜‡๐—ฎ โ™€๏ธ

In Gaza, where every day is a battle for survival, there exists a hidden crisis,
one that is felt deeply by women who are facing unimaginable hardships. The
brutal genocide has left thousands of women trapped in a cycle of violence,
displacement, and deprivation, with nowhere to turn for safety. As Gazaโ€™s
health system collapses under the strain of relentless bombing and blockades,
women, especially pregnant women, are bearing the heaviest burden. Whatโ€™s
often overlooked in the daily updates on the destruction is the severe toll this
conflict is taking on their health, their lives, and, crucially, the future of their
children.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฆ๐—ถ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—•๐—ฎ๐˜๐˜๐—น๐—ฒ: ๐—ฃ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ๐—ด๐—ป๐—ฎ๐—ป๐˜ ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฅ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ธ

The ongoing genocide in Gaza has placed pregnant women in an impossible
position. Many were forced to flee their homes due to the unceasing
bombardment, seeking refuge in overcrowded spaces or makeshift tents. Yet,
even within these temporary shelters, they were not safe. Asmaa Ahmed, a 31-
year-old mother describes the terror of giving birth in the middle of the night
in a Gaza City school that had no electricity. โ€œI was very, very afraid to lose the
baby,โ€ she recalls. With no access to proper medical equipment and only the
dim light of a mobile phone to guide the doctorโ€™s hands, the birth of her son
was just one of many similar stories. This isnโ€™t simply a crisis; itโ€™s a fight for
survival.

Across Gaza, approximately 52,000 pregnant women were facing
overwhelming challenges. Their lives, and the lives of their babies, are at risk
every single day. The lack of adequate maternal care, coupled with a scarcity of
clean sanitary products like pads, means these women are struggling in ways
that most can barely imagine. Pregnancy in Gaza has transformed into a
perilous journey, with miscarriage rates rising sharply and maternal mortality
spiking. Doctors and nurses, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of patients, are

forced to work in makeshift hospitals or even on the streets to assist with
deliveries in conditions that should be considered unthinkable.Image
๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ฎ๐—ฝ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฎ๐—น๐˜๐—ต๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ: ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐—ช๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐˜ ๐—ฆ๐˜‚๐—ฝ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜

In Gaza, hospitals have been either destroyed or are operating far below
capacity. According to the United Nations, only a fraction of Gazaโ€™s hospitals
were functioning at all, with many lacking the necessary equipment to support
a safe delivery. These hospitals are devoid of incubators for premature babies,
painkillers for new mothers, and even basic medications for complications like
infections. Instead, women are often told to bring their own mattresses and
sheets just to secure a place to lie down. For many, giving birth on unsanitary
floors or in temporary shelters is their only option.

The lack of resources has led to an alarming increase in infections,
malnutrition, and psychological trauma. Many women suffer from the stress of
constant bombardment, compounded by food and water shortages.
Malnutrition, dehydration, and exhaustion are making an already dangerous
situation even worse, resulting in low birth weights, stillbirths, and even deaths
that could have been prevented under normal circumstances. Whatโ€™s worse is
that postpartum care is virtually non-existent. Women are forced to return to
their shelters, to the rubble of their former lives, with no medical support to
guide them through the critical recovery period.Image
Read 14 tweets

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