Palestinian baby Yehia Hamuda, born two months premature at the height of the Gaza war, was transferred to the southern Gaza Strip after Israeli troops invaded the hospital where he was being treated. His parents haven’t seen him since then.
The mother, Sondos, said the 30km journey from Jabaliya to Rafah was too dangerous. “There are tanks and bulldozers there. My husband and I can’t go,” Sondos’ mother said. “They will kill us. I’m afraid that my son will be left to live alone,” he says. Reuters.
Yehia was born on November 27, seven weeks after the conflict began. Because communication was cut off, three months passed before Yehia’s parents were able to contact the hospital in Rafah to check if Yehia was okay. They remained in Jabaliya, fearing that they would not find a place to stay in Rafah. “Three months later, I saw his photo on my mobile phone. I want to hold him in my arms. I want to breastfeed him. Every day my chest hurts. I can’t handle it,” Sondos said.
In Jabaliya, Yehia’s father, Zakaria, yearns to be reunited with his son. “My only desire in life is to hug my son and let God bring us together,” he said.