One Family in Gaza

Just months after the Israeli assault that killed 1,390 Palestinians, I visited the Gaza Strip. Among dozens of painful stories that she heard, one family stood out. I spent several days with Kamal and Wafaa Awajah, playing with their children, sleeping with them in the tent they have occupied since their home was destroyed, and filming their story. Wafaa described the destruction of their home and the execution of their nine-year old son, Ibrahim. “For months, we circled the spot (where Ibrahim was killed) with rocks,” Wafaa said. “When anyone removed the rocks, my ten-year old son got upset and placed more.” Her small children scrambled and played on the rubble of their destroyed home.

Kamal talked about his struggle to help his children heal from the trauma. “What you can't remove is fear,” Kamal said. “From the children, from their eyes, behavior, emotions. You can remove hunger from a child when you feed him…but how to remove fear? The memories of fear are engraved in their blood.”

Wafaa and Kamal struggle to help their traumatized children feel safe, secure, and reclaim their shattered childhoods.