The Martyr’s Story

The war days kept dawdling on in Gaza, and the children thereby felt exasperated as they were deprived of playing and gaming during the mid-semester vacation. They had already been deprived of completing their first school semester. However, they insisted on enjoying the jubilance of their innocent childhood. They, thus, challenged the ambiance of the Israeli’s war against Gaza.

Amer, the 10 year old boy, kept begging his mother to allow him to go to the block’s courtyard downstairs to play with his brothers and neighbors’ children. His mother always feared that he might become the target of the Israeli forces; as they never differentiated between a little child and a man brandishing a gun. Once a four hour truce was announced, in which all military actions came at halt, Amer re-begged his mother and she conceded. On January 8, the truce started at 1 p.m., Amer asked his mother again to let him have a quick bite and go immediately after to play the ball with his neighboring kids. At this time, the Israeli craft targeted one of the apartments with a missile whose shrapnel flew about and hit many parts of his little body. A shrapnel hit his head, some others hit his legs, hands, and back. He was killed immediately.

Amer was academically, morally and actively an outstanding student. His academic achievement was so high like his high scores in the academic lessons, and in the sports activities, particularly football in which he was deservedly appointed captain of the school’s team.

Jumana, Amer’s younger sister, shared playing with him during the truce hours but did not share him his destiny. The first hours of losing him were too hard for her. She could not utter any word for hours. Now, her heart is burning in yearning for Amer. She always remembers him and wishes to join him. In her grieving childish tongue she said to her father, “Father, please dig me a grave next to Amer. I want to be close to him.” Her mother asserted that she had never allowed her to go to Amer’s grave alone since he had been martyred. When she goes there, she does not cry, but she sprinkles flowers on his tomb and prays for him.

“Amer’s Dental Clinic” was the dream that used to lurk in Amer’s mind. He wished to become a dentist and treat the teeth of kids of his age. He also wished to provide services to the poor; sometimes free of charge and for nominal charge at other times. However, he has gone, the clinic he dreamt of is still waiting for somebody to open it.