“Pakistani Nobel laureate calls for an immediate ceasefire to safeguard the lives of children,” writes the advocate.
Education activist Malala Yousafzai has drawn attention to the trauma endured by a young Palestinian girl amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
In an Instagram story, Malala shared the heart-wrenching image of the girl, who has lost her hair due to the stress and trauma inflicted by the military aggression. She called for an urgent ceasefire to safeguard innocent lives.
Malala Yousafzai has brought attention to the suffering of a young Palestinian girl amid Israel’s relentless bombardment of Gaza.
In an Instagram story, Malala shared a distressing image of the girl, who has lost her hair due to the severe stress and trauma caused by the ongoing conflict. The education activist called for an urgent ceasefire to ensure the safety of innocent lives.
“This is the trauma Palestinian girls are enduring under Israel’s bombardment — no peace, no school. We need a ceasefire now and to protect these children’s lives,” Malala wrote.
The Pakistani Nobel laureate has consistently advocated for the rights of Palestinian children and condemned the attacks on Gaza, especially those targeting educational institutions.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, 8-year-old Sama Tabil shared her distress, recounting how she once cherished her hair but now faces ridicule due to her baldness. With tears in her eyes, she expressed her wish to travel abroad for treatment to restore her appearance.
In a heart-wrenching video, the young girl recounted how she was once a diligent student who meticulously styled her hair each day before school.
Her life was upended when Israeli forces attacked their camp in Rafah, displacing her and her family. Sama described how they were asleep when the assault began, waking to the terrifying sounds of gunfire and explosions.
Days after the attack, Sama’s hair began to fall out. Her mother described witnessing the devastation and trauma caused by the bombardment, including dead bodies and wreckage.
“The constant fear of shelling and the lack of security have compounded our suffering,” her mother said, noting how the Israeli strikes have robbed Sama of her childhood.
In the Khan Younis camp, Sama is taunted by other girls who call her bald and a cancer patient, which deeply hurts her.
With a shortage of medicine in the besieged area, doctors are unable to provide the necessary treatment. UNICEF has issued a warning about the severe mental health crisis affecting children in Gaza.