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Mother Awatef and son Naeem lost their entire family in the Gaza war and are now stranded in Bethlehem because of the war.
Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is actually far away from the Gaza war. But here we meet the Palestinian Awatef Abu Daher from Gaza. She has had an odyssey – and has experienced almost unimaginable things in the last few months.
Three of Awatef’s four children were killed in the war. All she has left, who has been widowed for ten years, is her 9-year-old son Naeem: “It’s still difficult for me to talk about what happened,” she says and can no longer hold back her tears.
Life is in ruins
Awatef’s children were at their sister’s home in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip when Israel bombed it in early November in the war against Hamas. “It was a block of flats with neighbors. Everyone died that day,” says Awatef.
Legend:
At the beginning of November, Israel bombed the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the Gaza Strip in the war against Hamas.
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Awatef Abu Daher’s life is in ruins. Not only were her three children Obaida, Mais and Minna killed in the bombing. “I wouldn’t wish any mother in the world to have to experience the pain that I experienced,” she says. “I pray for that because it is an indescribable pain.” Other relatives also died in the war and their house in Gaza was destroyed.
Hideout in Bethlehem
Awatef and her son Naeem cannot currently return to Gaza. They found temporary shelter in the city of Bethlehem. Naeem was born with a heart defect and therefore needed various operations. He is currently receiving free medical care at the Bethlehem Children’s Hospital, which is also run with support from Switzerland.
Legend:
Naeem, who has a heart condition, is currently receiving medical care at the Bethlehem Children’s Hospital.
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It was also Naeem’s heart defect that probably saved the lives of mother and son. Because the complex treatment was not possible in Gaza, Awatef and Naeem traveled to Israel last fall – thanks to the support of an American aid organization.
Then came October 7th, the Hamas attack, the war. Awatef and Naeem’s lives changed in one fell swoop. They weren’t allowed to stay in Israel and couldn’t go back to Gaza – they ended up in Bethlehem.
Unable to return to Gaza
In addition to Naeem, six other children and their families from Gaza are receiving support at the Bethlehem Children’s Hospital – and not just medically. “We try to support the families so that they can process what they have experienced. We listen to them when they talk about their pain. Let them know that they are not alone,” says social worker Lina Rahil, who looks after the families.
Legend:
The social worker Lina Rahil looks after the families.
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The help in Bethlehem gives Awatef stability. For now, she and Naeem have a place to stay in Bethlehem. But for how long, she doesn’t know. They can hardly go back to Gaza – not even after the war. Because health care has been largely destroyed.
Legend:
Awatef and Naeem can stay in Bethlehem for now. However, for how long is uncertain.
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Awatef has one wish above all for the future: “I wish for peace. I wish Naeem a quiet and stable life. And a place where he can be treated if he needs surgery or anything else.”