Fergal Keane: For the survival of Gaza, the war will live long into the future

Such help is real help. It can be weighed, counted, loaded, and ultimately distributed. People can be fed and given medicine. But there are other challenges whose demands are huge, and which will have a huge impact on Gaza’s future.

War has created an unknown number of traumatized adults and children. We have recorded some of his stories but are aware of tens of thousands more that remain untold.

Children have faced acute suffering. According to a survey of caregivers of 504 children, for the UK charity War Child, In addition96% of children feel that death is near.

The interview also found that 49% had a wish to die. Often our journalists hear young survivors say they wished they could join their mother, father, or siblings in death.

Ten-year-old Amr al Hindi was the sole survivor of an Israeli attack on the building where he lived in Beit Lahia last October. Our friends in the area filmed Amr in the hospital after the attack.

The floor around him was covered in wounds. A woman sat with blood seeping from her ear. Nearby was a man who had just died.

“Where’s the sheriff?” Amr asked again. A nurse told him Sherif was OK. “I’ll take you upstairs to see him.” But Sherif, his brother, did not survive. As well as his other brother, Ali, or Aseel’s sister, or his mother and father. The whole family went.

After the ceasefire agreement was announced, we returned to see what became of Amr al Hindi. He lives with his grandparents, and it is clear that they love him with care and tenderness. The boy had three of his toes amputated after the bombing, but was able to walk normally.

Amr sat on his grandfather’s lap and looked directly at the camera. He was still, and composed, as if he were watching from behind a thick protective screen. He started talking about his brother Ali and how he wanted to go to Jordan and study to be a doctor.

“I want to be like Ali. I want to fulfill his dream, and go to Jordan to become a doctor,” he said. But in the last few words, the tears began to fall and he sobbed.

Amr’s grandfather kissed him on the cheek; he said “honey” while patting his chest.

At this moment it is understood that there is a lot of war here.

Some have been paused. Others, for those who survive, will live long into the future.