A Palestinian father, Mahdi Nijim, finds solace in the smiles of his two daughters, Mira and Miral, who miraculously survived an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. In the midst of tragedy, their survival is nothing short of a miracle.
On that fateful day in October, an airstrike demolished the apartment building where the family had sought refuge. Mahdi lost his wife, Mayada, their daughter Maria, and their young son Ahmed in the attack. He was devastated, left to account for the unimaginable loss of his loved ones.
Mahdi had left the apartment briefly to gather food aid when he witnessed a bomb falling from the sky. By the time he returned, the building was reduced to rubble. Amidst the chaos, he couldn’t believe that his family had survived.
In the aftermath, Mahdi’s daughter Miral was pulled from the debris, captured on camera by an NBC News crew. She was dazed, covered in dust, and bleeding. Her immediate concern was whether her father had survived. The gravity of the situation was overwhelming.
Miral recounted the terrifying experience of the floor giving way beneath her, like an elevator swiftly descending, followed by the collapse of their home upon her. Trapped under the rubble, she had lost hope of being rescued. But miraculously, rescuers managed to free her after what seemed like an eternity.
Miral suffered fractures to her clavicle and skull, while her sister Mira, still in a wheelchair, had a mangled left leg. Despite their injuries, they were alive. Mahdi’s relief was immeasurable.
Their journey to safety began when Mahdi’s brother overheard a Turkish delegation seeking injured children for medical treatment. This led them to Ankara, Turkey, where they received further medical care.
Mira underwent a surgery to remove the metal plate that her body was rejecting, and her leg was set in a cast. The family now resides in Ankara, where they are slowly trying to rebuild their shattered dreams.
Mahdi’s hopes lie in his daughters, who are the torchbearers of their mother’s dreams. Mayada had aspired for her daughters to become doctors. Mahdi anticipates a brighter future for them, where Mira fulfills her mother’s dream and becomes a renowned doctor.
As for Mira and Miral, their wishes are simpler. They long to return to school, continue their education, and pursue their passions. Mira has a strong desire to write, eager to pen down her thoughts and experiences.
While their journey to healing and rebuilding may be long and arduous, the Nijim family remains resilient. They hold on to the glimmer of hope that their daughters will thrive and create a better future for themselves.
To read more about this incredible story, visit F5mag.com.