The war between Israel and Hamas has entered its 100th day, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip. According to the UN, at least 40 children have been killed and more than 1,000 injured in the besieged enclave, where 35 schools have been damaged and 10,000 people have been displaced. The humanitarian situation is dire, as access to water, food, medicine, and electricity is severely limited.
But amid the chaos and despair, there is a glimmer of hope and joy. A video shared on social media shows a group of Palestinian children playing and laughing in a displacement camp in Rafah, in southern Gaza, as a rainbow appears in the sky. The children are seen running, jumping, and waving their hands, as if trying to touch the colorful arc.
The rainbow has long been a symbol of hope, promise, and peace in many cultures and religions. For these children, who have witnessed the horrors of war and lost their homes and loved ones, the rainbow may also represent a sign of beauty and celebration of life.
One of the children in the video is Fidaa Al-Qurshali, a 12-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a doctor. She says that seeing the rainbow made her happy and hopeful for the future. “The rainbow is like a gift from God, to remind us that there is still good in this world,” she says. “It makes me feel that one day, the war will end and we will live in peace and freedom.”
Fidaa’s mother, Huda, says that her daughter has been helping a Palestinian doctor who set up a medical tent in the camp to provide primary care and services to the displaced patients. She says that Fidaa is brave and compassionate, and that she is proud of her. “She wants to help people who are suffering, like she is,” Huda says. “She is my rainbow, my light in the darkness.”
The video of the children and the rainbow has touched the hearts of many people around the world, who have expressed their solidarity and support for the Palestinian cause. Some have also donated money and supplies to the camp, where the children and their families are living in tents and relying on humanitarian aid. The video has also inspired some artists and poets, who have created works of art and literature to celebrate the resilience and spirit of the children.
The children, meanwhile, say that they are grateful for the attention and kindness they have received, but they also have a simple message for the world: “Stop the war. Save Gaza. Save our lives.”