**DaysofPal-** In the heart of the besieged Gaza Strip, the story of four orphaned siblings unfolds, a poignant testament to the human cost of conflict.
As Ramadan approaches, their Iftar table remains incomplete, haunted by two empty seats where their parents once sat.
In a small home on Hamid Street, west of Gaza City, three girls—Maram (14), Layan (12), and Fatima (10)—and their younger brother Abdul Aziz (8) gather for the evening meal.
Their silence is heavy, punctuated only by the soft sobs of Abdul Aziz, who lost an eye in the Israeli bombing that claimed his mother’s life over a year ago.
The tragedy began on October 14, 2023, when their mother ventured out with Abdul Aziz to purchase necessities, never to return.
#### A Mother’s Final Embrace
That day, Israeli missiles struck their residential area, reducing it to rubble and leaving dozens dead. Maram Ghaith, the eldest daughter, recounted her mother’s final moments to Palestine newspaper: “She tried to shield Abdul Aziz with her body, but even her love couldn’t protect them from the bombs.”
While Abdul Aziz survived, albeit severely injured, his mother was killed instantly, her embrace frozen in time as a last act of protection.
After the loss of their mother, the family’s sole breadwinner, Mohammed, assumed dual roles as both father and mother.
Despite the constant threat of war, he worked tirelessly to care for his children, moving them repeatedly in search of safety. Yet, Gaza offered no sanctuary. “We fled from one corner of the city to another,” Maram said, “but there is no safe place here.”
#### Fathers Become Martyrs Too
As the war intensified, resources dwindled. With Israel blocking the entry of gas into the Strip, families resorted to firewood for cooking. Mohammed and his eldest son, Shadi (16), took up this dangerous task, venturing into areas targeted by Israeli snipers.
On April 20, 2024, they set out to collect firewood, hoping to provide sustenance for their starving family. They never returned.
“The first time they succeeded, but the second time, the snipers didn’t let them leave with what they had gathered. Two bullets ended their lives—one for each,” he told Palestine.
It took a week for the family to learn of their fate, as residents eventually retrieved their bodies after the snipers vacated their positions.
#### Four Children Alone
Today, the four siblings sit alone, staring at the empty chairs where their parents used to sit. There is no one to comfort them, no one to answer their questions about why their father left or why the world seems indifferent to their suffering.
Abdul Aziz clutches a toy car, his remaining eye filled with unshed tears, while Maram struggles to be strong for her siblings.
“The international community talks about human rights, but they do nothing,” Ahmed lamented. “Gaza has become a mass grave, and the world watches silently.”
#### A Genocide Unfolding
From October 7, 2023, to January 19, 2025, Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza.
Over 160,000 people have been killed or wounded, many of them children and women. Thousands remain missing under the rubble, and entire neighborhoods lie in ruins.
Yet, global responses have been limited to tepid condemnations and humanitarian aid that barely scratches the surface of the crisis.
For the Ghaith children, the numbers are irrelevant. What matters is the absence of laughter in their home, the lack of warmth in their meals, and the void left by parents who gave everything to ensure their survival.
As Ramadan approaches, their Iftar table serves as a grim reminder of the sacrifices made—and the promises broken—to those caught in the crossfire of war.
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