Yesterday morning I read on the NOS Dutch news website that Israel had violated the ceasefire and carried out a large-scale attack on Gaza. More than 300 people were killed, including many children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
I asked the family in Gaza with whom I keep in touch via social media if they were OK. They had been lucky, they told me. The bombing happened at 2am and the head of the family said he felt it was doomsday. Dead bodies of children lay all around them. Then he sent me a video that was really horrifying, of a boy whose body had been torn apart. After a few seconds, I couldn’t watch anymore. I stopped watching the other videos. He also showed pictures of two unexploded bombs still lying among the rubble, one bomb located next to a shelter for displaced people. The family lives in a dilapidated house which is on the verge of collapse, but they have no other place to stay. Insects abound, due to all the trash on the streets.
What are you hoping for? I asked him. And this was what he said: ‘To stop the shooting, remove the terrorists, clean the streets, and provide food. We miss healthy food.’ Speaking further, he said, ‘We don’t want anyone to die on either side. We want the war to end immediately.’ And: ‘I encourage the handover of the hostages and the end of the war, and Hamas must leave Gaza immediately. We do not want a fight.’ He also hoped that his family would be allowed to leave Gaza. I also hope for the release of the hostages, and shelter, food and medical aid for all people in Gaza. Although I worry that if the people in Gaza are temporarily moved elsewhere, they will not be able to return to Gaza. In doing so, I also find that somewhat ironic, because why were they not allowed to leave before the war started on 7 October? Furthermore, that would be ethnic cleansing, which is not something we should accept.
I advocate that we see the other person first and foremost as a human being, no matter what religion, skin colour or whatever. That we try to help each other. It is good that efforts are being made to stop the war in Ukraine and spare human lives, but the same should apply to civilians in Gaza. The Dutch government should urge Israel and the United States to do so. As I have argued in previous Op-Ed articles, In my opinion, the Netherlands should not supply weapons to Israel and should urge allies to do the same. Of course, I also think Hamas should not be given weapons. We are adults and should think of the children and resolve conflicts through dialogue.
Every human life counts. The ceasefire has now been breached, but hopefully it will be restored through mediation by mediators and the United Nations. And by giving a voice to people in conflict countries, such as Alon-Lee Green of Standing Together, Women Wage Peace in Israel and Women of the Sun in the West Bank. Let us cherish every life. Caring for children, each other and nature. For: A World Where All Children Can Play.
Photo: an unexploded missile in Gaza
Author: May-May Meijer, chair Peace SOS
Note: This article was published in Dutch under the title ‘Stop de aanvallen op Gaza, denk aan de kinderen’ on the Joop BNNVARA website on March 18th 2025