The war in Gaza has claimed countless lives, but few stories are as heart-wrenching as that of 9-year-old Khaled Joudeh and his younger brother, Tamer. The brothers’ tragic journey began on October 22, when an Israeli airstrike destroyed their home, killing their parents, older brother, baby sister, and dozens of other relatives. In an instant, the young boys were left orphans, facing a world of unimaginable pain and loss.
Khaled, despite his young age, tried to be a pillar of strength for Tamer, who survived the strike but was left severely injured with a broken back and leg. Their uncle, Mohammad Faris, recalls how Khaled would comfort his younger brother during moments of despair. “He would always quiet his brother when he cried,” Faris told *The New York Times* in a recent phone interview. “He would tell him: ‘Mama and Baba are in heaven. Mama and Baba would be sad if they knew we were crying because of them.’”
But Khaled’s own strength was fragile. At night, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza would terrify him, causing him to wake up shaking and screaming. He would sometimes run to his uncle for comfort, seeking solace from the horrors surrounding him.
This short, terrifying existence for the young brothers ended on January 9 when another airstrike struck the family home where they had sought shelter. The attack claimed the lives of Khaled, Tamer, their 2-year-old cousin Nada, and three other relatives, according to family members.
The tragic story of Khaled and Tamer underscores the profound toll that the 10-month-old war in Gaza has taken on children. Innocent lives have been caught in the crossfire, paying the ultimate price for a conflict they had no part in.
Since the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, the Israeli military launched an aggressive campaign with the stated goal of eradicating Hamas. This has led to one of the heaviest aerial bombardments in recent history on the densely populated Gaza Strip. Israel has accused Hamas of exploiting Gaza’s urban landscape to shield its fighters and weapons infrastructure, using tunnels under neighborhoods, launching rockets near civilian homes, and holding hostages in city centers. Hamas, however, denies these accusations, asserting that its members are Gazans who live among the population.
Despite the complexities of urban warfare, international law experts emphasize that Israel has a responsibility to protect civilians, even if Hamas exploits them as Israel claims. The Israeli military has stated that it takes “all feasible precautions” to mitigate harm to civilians. However, the devastating impact on Gaza’s children is undeniable.
Of the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in the war, an estimated 15,000 were under 18, according to Gazan health officials. The United Nations estimates that at least 19,000 more children have been orphaned, and nearly one million children have been displaced, according to UNICEF, the U.N. children’s agency. These statistics reflect the staggering human cost of the conflict, particularly on Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
As the war drags on, the stories of children like Khaled and Tamer serve as a poignant reminder of the innocent lives lost and the profound suffering endured by those who remain.
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