The reality of daily events at Gaza from the eyes of a 13-year old

Every day, I see videos and photos from Gaza that linger in my head. Buildings that used to be joy-filled homes are now piles of wood and concrete, nothing stands in place to tell all the memories made. Streets are filled with dust and weeping families. I see children with blank faces standing in the middle of chaos, not knowing where to go or who's still alive, completely lost in the midst of a raging war.

- BY ZEYDH SHUMRAZ ISHRATH

I'm only thirteen but I know when something is unfair. What's happening in Gaza isn’t just a conflict. It’s a disaster for real people, who never asked for what they are being put through. People are so blindfolded to this harsh reality, believing someone will come to save them. Yet, the war rages on and people continue losing their lives.

The reality

The thing that hurts even more is the fact that it has apparently become so normal. People scroll past videos of suffering families in Gaza Strip like its normal, and it's just bad news, but every single picture is a story of how somebody's life was ruined.

A mother in search of her child.

A father digging through rubble with his hands.

A little girl holding her baby brother, both covered in dust.

These are not just "casualties." These are families, people who have birthdays, dreams, and plans for their future. Every time a bomb drops, those futures disappear. What if it was you under that bomb? What if you were the ones getting your dreams ripped right out of your grasp? What if you were the ones losing your bloodline? Think about how you would feel.

l understand that countries have disagreements, and that governments argue over borders and power. But how can that ever be more important than human lives? No argument, no piece of land, no political reason can justify what's happening to the people in Gaza. If it was some other country which had done this, for example, India or Pakistan, there would certainly be immediate repercussion to follow, but now look at what is happening at Gaza and tell me why nothing is happening other than 24 hour ceasefires that shouldn’t be classified as one when even during that Gazans don't receive aid. It has come to a point courageous people have to step in and show the world what is happening. Not a government or enforcement but civilians and journalists.

When the world is quiet