Today, as dawn blushes the sky, President Biden is set to weave a poignant narrative. A meeting, unprecedented in its kind, is on his schedule - a face-to-face with the families of American hostages seized on October 7th. The number of families, their identities - remain shrouded in mystery, akin to the fog of war that lingers in the ravaged landscapes of Gaza.
Outside his office, hope is a tenuous thread linking ten Americans — a countdown initiated by the November ceasefire freeing two compatriots. The President has fiercely promised not to sever this thread — he has vowed relentless pursuit until all hostages return, safe and sound.
Addressing the elephant in the room, Biden has also called out Israel amidst a lively campaign fundraiser. A critique, sharp as shards, targeted Israel's rampant, indiscriminate bombing – a damaging move, he opines, is betting against their support. 'Bibi,' the pithy pet name for the Israeli Prime Minister, is advised to entertain the prospect of change. 'You cannot say no to a Palestinian state,' was the curt advice.
Meanwhile, the torrential downpour of criticism on Israel spirals. The heart of the maelstrom being the Israeli air and ground offence, a terrifying storm raging unabated.
Now, let's dip our toes into the tempest. Meet the Mosa family, Palestinian refugees fleeing from their native Gaza city, harboring a fervent desire to escape their war-torn homeland. Heed their story – Dr. Raed Mosa and his young daughter, Daniel, surviving an airstrike; living off contaminated water and coal-cooked meals without electricity; shuttling to the southern city of Rafah amidst constant threat - a simultaneous countdown of life and death within their midst. They stand as the harrowed representatives of over two million Palestinians teetering on the edge of a humanitarian disaster.
The unabating war claims casualties daily; nine Israeli soldiers were swallowed by the gruesome beast of war in a recent incident in Gaza's Sajaiya neighborhood. Israeli officials predict it as a long haul, a war of attrition that may last for many a moon.
As we step back from the warring trench, we realize that it's not just Gaza's landscape left scarred, but also the hopes of those who call it home. With persistent resilience, they yearn for an ameliorating change, a chance for survival, and a future of peace - a narrative worth writing.
