In a psychosocial support session with a group of children, I asked them about their wishes. I thought they would dream of a truce or returning to school or playing again.
To my shock, some said they long for Maqluba (a Palestinian well-known traditional dish), kofta (minced meat with onions and parsley), kebab (grilled meat), and pizza.
It was only by then that I realized how starvation has limited their imagination and turned the simplest kinds of foods into dreams.
On their little faces, I could see the claws of deprivation and famine that has swept through their childhood.
I tried to instill in them some psychological resilience, though I am aware that talking about adaptation does not fill empty stomachs. I, therefore, decided to listen, to stay with them for a while, and tell them stories that could keep hope alive in them.
In such situations, humanitarian support must come before the psychological one. It is enough sometimes for a child to feel that someone is paying full attention to what he has to say without asking him to be strong.
Oh! Dear children of Gaza, peace be upon you.
You are the ones to teach us what we have forgotten now.
Dr. Said Mohammed Al-Kahlout
Mental Health Specialist and Writer
Gaza, Palestine
22/04/2025
