In the midst of the devastating conflict in Gaza, an unthinkable tragedy unfolded. Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old girl, found herself trapped in a car with her aunt, uncle, and four cousins. As they desperately sought to escape the violence, a bombing took the lives of everyone in the car except Hind and her 15-year-old cousin Layan.
In a heart-wrenching emergency call to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, Hind pleaded for someone to come to her rescue. Her tiny voice trembled with fear as she begged, “Come take me. Please, will you come?” The Palestine Red Crescent Society released the recording, shedding light on the horrifying situation.
Hind’s family had embarked on their journey in hopes of finding safety away from the conflict zone in Gaza City. Tragically, they became victims of the very violence they were trying to escape. Layan, the sole survivor among the six cousins, called for help, describing the imminent danger of an approaching tank. Gunfire erupted, and then the line went silent. When dispatchers eventually reconnected, it was Hind who answered, revealing the devastating news that Layan had been killed.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society wasted no time and dispatched an ambulance team to rescue Hind. However, due to the active combat area, they had to obtain permission from Israeli authorities to reach the trapped vehicle. The Israel Defense Forces, when approached for comment, expressed unfamiliarity with the incident.
As Hind’s family and the Palestine Red Crescent Society await answers, their desperation grows. Hind’s mother, Wissam Hamadah, anxiously yearns for her daughter’s safe return. Every sound of an ambulance or explosion fills her with dread, fearing the worst for her little girl. The uncertainty and anxiety surrounding Hind’s whereabouts weigh heavily on her family, who are now demanding answers from international organizations and the Israeli military.
In an attempt to shed light on the situation, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry has held the Israeli government accountable for the unknown status of Hind, as well as the missing paramedics, Yousef Zeino and Ahmed al Madhoun. It has been nearly a week since the Palestine Red Crescent Society lost contact with them.
The anguish of Hind’s family is not an isolated incident. Amidst Israel’s prolonged military assault on Gaza, the United Nations estimates that over 17,000 children in the region are now unaccompanied or separated from their parents, with the conflict claiming the lives of more than 10,000 children.
As Hind’s mother reaches out to the U.N. and human rights groups for assistance, she pleads for contact from Israeli forces, desperately hoping for news about her innocent daughter. The days pass, but Hamadah refuses to lose hope, as it remains her only solace in this nightmare.
“I believe that my daughter is alive, I’m certain my daughter is still alive,” Hamadah declares amidst the haunting echoes of bombs in the background. With tears in her eyes, she implores, “I’m telling you my daughter is alive. Bring her back to me.”
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