By: Leslie Phillips, Alternative Medicine Practitioner, Founder of Lifey.Me
“War is organized murder, and nothing else”- Harry Patch
The other night I was trying to answer the questions about children of war, that were being asked by my six-year-old daughter whose safe at home.
I found myself grappling with words and tears formed in my eyes because there is no answer that could ever justify the murder of children.
Children are not contributors to war, they are innocent victims that are caught in the cross-fires. They are full of questions, fear, and their cries are falling onto deaf ears.
It is so easy to dissociate from someone’s else’s problem, it is so easy for someone to choose apathy than to do the hard thing- where someone says, if another of my own species is suffering then so am I.
We are at the end of day the same species. Hear me friend, it makes no sense to murder our own kind. One radical group has spoken for an entire country without permission or support from the locals. Yet an entire country is paying the price.
“I cannot eat without feeling guilty. I cannot kiss my children without feeling guilty”- Mona
There is a woman, Mona, who expressed to me one afternoon her take on the war as she is descendants of a Palestine family who lives in the US.
She shared with me about the goodness of her people, the ones who are not supporting extremist groups but who are certainly suffering. She spoke of how her people wave palm leaves to welcome the Christians who journey through each year.
She speaks to me about all the beautiful things you do not see in the news. Here is a video below of Palestinian Christians in Palestine, who have shared space with Muslims, both recently bombed in the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza on Oct. 19, 2023, as they were taking shelter. Belief systems and religion did not divide them, they were together fighting for their lives, (2023, October 30).
Children of Gaza…..
The war may be complicated, but choosing life for children should never be complicated. This should be the case for both sides.
The Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated areas in the world with over 2.3 million people, and over half of those are children, UNICEF Youth. (2023).
Though some reports claim the death tolls are beginning to decline, many argue that it appears that way because of all the bodies trapped under rumble that have not been accounted for. Not to mention, thousands of children are now facing malnutrition, are unable to receive the adequate care they need, and have severe burns, injuries, amputations, have lost access to reliable water, food sources, and hygiene care, and are facing the tolls of great mental stress and trauma.
The following link explains what the UNICEF is calling for, https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support.
If you want to help but are unsure how, here is an organization that can get your started, https://www.healpalestine.org/. Heal Palestine is working to bring health, education, aid, and leadership to children of Gaza. They have helped relocate children into safe places, and provide the medical attention that’s needed.
This organization is US based and have lots of events going on from rallies, to feeding children and communities, fundraising events, and even yoga fundraising popups.
Research
- Shepardson, C. (2023, October 30). Palestinian Christians and Muslims have lived together in the region for centuries − and several were killed recently while sheltering in the historic Church of Saint Porphyrius. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/palestinian-christians-and-muslims-have-lived-together-in-the-region-for-centuries-and-several-were-killed-recently-while-sheltering-in-the-historic-church-of-saint-porphyrius-216335
2.Child-friendly guide to the Israel and Gaza crisis | UNICEF Youth. (2023). UNICEF Australia. https://www.unicef.org.au/unicef-youth/making-sense-of-emergencies/youth-israel-palestine-crisis
3.Children in Gaza need life-saving support | UNICEF. (n.d.). Www.unicef.org. https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/children-gaza-need-lifesaving-support
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