By Wajiha Tamseel Mirza
" My name is Alaa. I am a fearless and brave citizen of Gaza. I am a student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. Advocacy has been my passion, but the start of the war in Gaza has suppressed that passion.
At the beginning of the war, the Israelis filled our entire city with smoke and dust At that time we wanted to flee from inside the city and take shelter in a safe place, but unfortunately we were able to cross only one particular street. It is with great sadness and pain that no one other than us has been able to leave this street.
My family and I wanted to escape the bombing and the smoke, and some people stayed behind with me. In the rush to flee, an Israeli soldier suddenly opens fire on me. I run away and the bullets follow me. The Israeli Soldier tried to kill me. He kept firing at me and I kept running but no bullet hit me.
(Hahaha) "Alaa" sighed with a loud laugh and said. "I've got a new life. " People were surprised how it survived and even more surprised that nothing happened to me and no bullet could reach me. I'm still in Gaza. Some of my family members were martyred and some are still alive. When Israel bombed Gaza, all my classmates were martyred in various attacks. I tried to get in touch but couldn't find anything.
Alaa loves his family and friends, many of whom he has lost. He loves his little sister the most. "Alaa" did not say anything about whether she is with him anymore, except for a picture. That's it But where there is war, there will be many such Alaa's. Now it is their fate either to be saved or to escape from the mortal world. The current situation in Gaza is in front of us all.
The Gaza Strip is at the centre of a crisis. A long-running war, inadequate aid, and lack of basic amenities have made the plight of those living there unbearable. Sometimes the efforts of the sizzler bring color and sometimes they sit.
Israel launched a large-scale military operation in Gaza after Hamas invaded Israel in October 2023. Since then, aerial bombardment, ground attacks, and destruction of bomber structures have become the norm. Populations have been affected, people have been displaced from their homes, and infrastructure has been severely damaged.
Basic humanitarian medicines, food, clean water, electricity, and medical facilities have been severely lacking in Gaza. Many hospitals are either completely destroyed or unable to provide adequate services due to lack of domestic staff and medical equipment. The chances of malnutrition and famine in children are serious.
Many children are severely malnourished, and in some areas entire populations are struggling to access food. The signs of famine are particularly evident in northern Gaza.
The ongoing bombardment of key areas has repeatedly forced people out of their homes. Locals are trying to take shelter in temporary shelters, tents, or any place considered safe. But these cities and areas lack basic amenities.
Alaa and his family have been through all these hardships. It was Alaa's good fortune that he did not fall victim to Israeli bullets. "Alaa is searching for his loved ones and hoping for permanent ceasefire in Gaza
Wajeeha Tamsil Mirza is a multimedia journalist based in Pakistan who delivers fact-based news. After graduating in the field of journalism, she has been serving as a reporter, news correspondent, and columnist in both Urdu and English newspapers across Pakistan. She is also nominated for various national and international journalistic councils, forums, press clubs, and associations. Wajeeha continues to fulfill her journalistic responsibilities across digital and print media platforms. She is actively working as a journalist with Team SarAam and contributes as a social worker with Al-Khidmat Foundation Pakistan.