Hello, my name is Zainab, I am 18 years old.

I once lived a simple but beautiful life in Gaza, in a small home with my family. My father worked in the government, and my mother was a wonderful primary school teacher at UNRWA schools. I have three younger brothers: Mohammed (10), Ibrahim (5), and Yaman (2). My father always cared that we succeeded in school and looked presentable in front of others.

Life went on like this until October 7, 2023—the beginning of the black nightmare that changed everything. We lived in Jabalia, north of Gaza. At first, fear was only from the bombing and destruction. Many friends and neighbors were killed. We thought this was the expected price of war, but soon we realized it was much worse.

The army ordered my father to evacuate south, but he refused and decided to stay. Weeks passed, and famine and death spread across northern Gaza. We could not even find a single piece of bread . In February 2024, my father finally decided to leave through the so-called "Death Checkpoint" (Netzarim). There, Israeli soldiers shot him for no reason—he almost lost his life but miraculously survived ✨.

We spent months moving between Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Nuseirat—living in tents, destroyed houses, and on the streets. We thought the war might finally end when the ceasefire was announced in January 2025. We returned to the ruins of our destroyed home in northern Gaza, but it was unlivable. So we went back to a tent in Khan Younis. Then war and famine returned once again .

I am sharing my story with you today, hoping to find help for my father’s treatment and food for my little brothers.

My name is Zainab Mohammed … from the City of Death: Gaza.