In the besieged Gaza Strip, the story of four orphaned siblings stands as a harrowing testament to the human toll of war. As Ramadan nears, their Iftar table remains achingly incomplete, marked by two empty seats where their parents once sat.  

In a modest home on Hamid Street, west of Gaza City, three sisters—Maram (14), Layan (12), and Fatima (10)—and their younger brother, Abdul Aziz (8), gather for their evening meal. The silence is heavy, broken only by Abdul Aziz’s quiet sobs. He lost an eye in the Israeli bombing that killed his mother over a year ago.  

The tragedy began on 14 October 2023, when their mother ventured out with Abdul Aziz to buy essentials, never to return. Israeli missiles struck their neighbourhood, reducing it to rubble. Maram, the eldest, recalls her mother’s final act: “She tried to shield Abdul Aziz with her body, but even her love couldn’t protect them.” While Abdul Aziz survived, his mother perished instantly, her embrace frozen in time.  

After losing their mother, their father, Mohammed, became both parent and provider. Despite the relentless threat of war, he worked tirelessly to protect his children, moving them repeatedly in search of safety. “We fled from one corner of the city to another,” Maram said, “but there is no safe place here.”  

As the war intensified, resources dwindled. With Israel blocking gas supplies, families turned to firewood for cooking. Mohammed and his eldest son, Shadi (16), took on the perilous task of gathering it, often venturing into areas targeted by Israeli snipers. On 20 April 2024, they set out to collect firewood but never returned.  

A relative, Ahmed, recounted their fate: “The first time they succeeded, but the second time, snipers didn’t let them leave. Two bullets ended their lives—one for each.” It took a week for the family to recover their bodies.  

Now, the four siblings sit alone, staring at the empty chairs where their parents once sat. Abdul Aziz clutches a toy car, his remaining eye brimming with tears, while Maram struggles to hold the family together.  

“The international community speaks of human rights but does nothing,” Ahmed said bitterly. “Gaza has become a mass grave, and the world watches in silence.”  

Since October 2023, Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza, leaving over 160,000 dead or wounded, many of them children and women. Thousands remain buried under rubble, and entire neighbourhoods lie in ruins. Yet, global responses have been limited to hollow condemnations and inadequate aid.  

For the Ghaith children, the numbers mean little. What matters is the absence of laughter, the cold meals, and the void left by parents who gave everything to keep them alive. As Ramadan approaches, their Iftar table serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made—and the promises broken—to those trapped in the crossfire of war.