Hello, I'm Islam Abu Hamada, a young Palestinian man from Gaza City. I lived a simple life with my beloved wife, Houria, and my beautiful daughter, Elaine, in our small house within our large family home, which embraced me and my brothers and sisters. Those were days filled with love, laughter, and family warmth... until the day came that turned our entire lives into hell.

On October 7, 2023, a devastating war broke out, turning everything upside down. We could no longer sleep, and my little daughter trembled with every explosion. I was powerless to protect her from this fear.

On October 28, 21 days after the war began, a rocket fell directly on our house. In an instant, our four-story house was reduced to rubble.

My family was buried beneath it. On that day, I lost 10 of my dearest people: my brother Mohammed and his children, my sister Yaqeen and her children, and my grandmother. I never said goodbye to them; they all left in an instant. I felt my heart explode.

Amidst the rubble, I screamed, "Where is my baby girl, Elaine? Where is my baby girl?"

I saw my wife, Houria, who was seven months pregnant, injured and bleeding. My family and I began digging through the rubble with our hands until we reached my baby girl, Elaine, under the stones, about two meters below the rubble. I found her looking at me in astonishment, almost uninjured... God had miraculously protected her.

We took my wife and baby to the hospital, where we confirmed that the fetus in my wife's womb was also safe and sound. I cried with gratitude, while my heart broke for those I had lost.

After the bombing, we were displaced from one place to another. We lost our home and everything we owned. In January 2024, our new son, Mohammed, was born. I named him Mohammed, after my martyred brother—a symbol of joy and hope amidst this devastation. But even little Mohammed was not spared: in a nearby bombing, he was injured in the head.

We were displaced repeatedly from house to tent, from tent to tent. We lived in conditions unbearable to humans: no protection from the cold or the heat, no clean water, no food. My children got sick, and so did my mother, and we moved her from one hospital to another, until my mother passed away in March 2024... She was the last thing I had left of compassion.

Today, I live with my wife and two children in a tent near Nuseirat Beach, without any real shelter or source of livelihood. Food has become a dream, bread a wish, and water a life-threatening condition.

I share my story with you because I believe there are still compassionate hearts in this world.

All I ask for is support to support my family, to provide safety for my children, and to build a new future from the ruins of this disaster.

Help me plant hope again.

I am grateful to everyone who read my words and to everyone who thought of extending a helping hand.

In particular, I thank the people of Europe and everyone who stood with us during this ordeal.

WhatsApp: +972597112867

My Instagram account to follow my daily life: islam.gaza11