Gaza experienced a Mother’s Day steeped in profound sorrow this past weekend, a stark contrast to the joyous celebrations observed elsewhere in the Middle East. For countless mothers and children in the besieged Palestinian territory, the occasion served as a brutal and agonizing reminder of lives tragically cut short by the ongoing conflict, transforming what should be a day of love and appreciation into one of deep mourning and remembrance.
The air in Gaza, already thick with the dust of destruction and displacement, carried an even heavier burden of grief as families navigated Mother’s Day amidst relentless hardship. While the international community marked the occasion with customary gestures of affection, for mothers in Gaza, the day was defined by the gaping void left by lost children and for children, the absence of their maternal anchors. The ongoing Israeli military operations have exacted a devastating toll, leaving a generation scarred by loss and trauma.
Em Rami Dawwas, a mother displaced to a tent in Gaza City, embodied the profound sorrow felt across the Strip. Her Mother’s Day was a somber reflection on the three sons she lost to Israeli attacks. The bodies of two of her sons remain withheld by authorities, a further layer of anguish for a mother denied even the basic comfort of a final farewell.
"I miss my sons on Mother’s Day," Dawwas shared, her voice trembling with emotion. "They used to bring me gifts, flowers, sweets, and ask me about my needs. They were the light of my life." Surrounded by boxes filled with her sons’ clothes, she finds solace in their tangible remnants, unable to bear the thought of discarding them, each item a poignant echo of cherished memories.
The sheer scale of loss among Palestinian children in Gaza is staggering. UNICEF has estimated that since the commencement of the Israeli military campaign in October 2023, a horrific number of young lives have been impacted. In an October report, the United Nations agency indicated that approximately 64,000 children had been killed or wounded in Israeli attacks, a figure that underscores the devastating human cost of the conflict on its youngest population.
Hind Khoudary, reporting from the makeshift tent encampments in Gaza City, described Dawwas’s quiet devotion. Dawwas keeps photographs of her sons tucked beneath her pillow, a daily ritual of remembrance. She looks at them constantly, clinging to the hope that by holding their images, she can somehow keep their spirits and memories alive in the face of overwhelming loss. For many mothers, the only solace found on this day is in the silent company of their departed children, spending hours in graveyards, seeking a connection to those they can no longer hold.
A Child’s Grief on Mother’s Day
The pain of Mother’s Day is not confined to mothers who have lost children; it also profoundly impacts children who have been orphaned. Maram Ahmed, a 14-year-old, faced her second Mother’s Day without her mother, a victim of an Israeli air strike that tragically claimed the lives of her entire family. Her mother, she recounted, was her closest confidante and friend.
"On Mother’s Day, even if I didn’t have money, I would buy my mum a gift from my allowance, even if it was for less than a dollar," Maram recalled, her words carrying the weight of a maturity far beyond her years. "I just wanted to make her happy." Now residing in a sparse tent, her childhood dreams and simple desires are overshadowed by a profound sense of loss.
The sight of other children with their mothers is a particularly acute source of pain for Maram. "I feel so sad when I see other children with their mothers, but I don’t show it," she admitted, a testament to the resilience and the internal struggle of children navigating such immense trauma. Her hidden sorrow reflects the unspoken anguish many young Gazans are forced to conceal.
The Broader Impact on Women and Children
The devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict on women and girls in Gaza have been extensively documented. A recent report by Amnesty International highlighted the "brutal price" paid by women and girls since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. The report details how the deliberate imposition of conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza have led to compounded and life-threatening consequences for women.
These consequences include mass displacement, the collapse of essential reproductive, maternal, and neonatal healthcare services, the interruption of treatment for chronic illnesses, and heightened exposure to disease. Women are also enduring unsafe and undignified living conditions, all of which contribute to profound physical and mental harm. The war has disproportionately affected women, who are often responsible for caring for families amidst collapsing infrastructure and widespread shortages.
The Grim Toll of Ongoing Violence
The figures paint a grim picture of the human cost of the conflict. According to recent data from the Ministry of Health, since a fragile ceasefire was agreed upon in October 2025, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of over 650 Palestinians, a significant portion of whom were women and children. This ongoing violence perpetuates cycles of grief and trauma for families across the Gaza Strip.
When considering the entirety of the conflict, the overall death toll attributed to Israeli attacks since its inception exceeds 72,000 individuals. This staggering number represents not just statistics, but a generation profoundly altered, with mothers, fathers, and children grappling with unimaginable loss and a future shrouded in uncertainty.
A Mother’s Unyielding Love Amidst Despair
Despite the overwhelming despair, acts of maternal love and resilience persist, even in the direst circumstances. Mothers, even those who have lost children, find ways to express their enduring love and to care for surviving family members. They are the pillars of strength in a community shattered by war, striving to maintain a semblance of normalcy and hope.
The stories emerging from Gaza are not merely accounts of loss; they are testaments to the indomitable spirit of those who continue to endure. On this Mother’s Day, the narrative from Gaza is one of profound grief, but also of an unyielding love that transcends the horrors of war, a love that continues to nurture and sustain amidst the ruins. The international community’s attention remains focused on the humanitarian crisis, with calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire growing louder as the devastating impact on civilian lives, particularly mothers and children, continues to unfold. The ongoing struggle for peace and basic human rights in Gaza casts a long shadow over every commemoration, transforming simple holidays into profound expressions of loss and resilience.
