Arabic version: جدّة في غزة تربي طفلاً يتيمًا بعد مأساة عائلية

In Gaza City, Maha al-Rubaie, a 56-year-old woman, has taken on the role of a mother once again by adopting her orphaned grandnephew, six-month-old Hamza. Maha, who previously raised Hamza’s father, Omar al-Rubaie, after losing him to the 2008 Gaza war, now faces the challenge of nurturing Hamza, whose parents were killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 18, 2024.

Maha’s life changed dramatically when an Israeli bomb struck their home during Ramadan, resulting in the deaths of Hamza’s parents, Omar and Diana, and three siblings. “Black dust, rubble and shrapnel filled the air,” she recalls, as she and her family rushed to where the children had been playing. The tragedy left Maha with the responsibility of raising Hamza, who was born just months later. According to Al Jazeera, she describes the moment of Hamza’s birth as bittersweet, receiving both a birth certificate and two death certificates simultaneously.

Despite the overwhelming grief, Maha finds solace in her bond with Hamza, who calls her ‘Mama.’ She describes the joy he brings as a light in the darkness, stating, “Seeing him lifted some of the sorrow and grief from our hearts.” However, the challenges are immense, as Maha struggles with health issues while caring for Hamza in a makeshift home.

The ongoing conflict has severely impacted access to medical care, and Hamza has been diagnosed with periodic neurological seizures due to oxygen deprivation at birth. Maha has fought to secure the necessary treatment for him, often walking long distances to hospitals amid destruction. Despite these hardships, she dreams of a better future for Hamza, wishing to provide him with a safe environment and a good education, all while navigating the ruins of their lives.