We are orphans and helpless children in Palestine. We don't know how much longer we will survive. Israeli bombings ravaged our homes, and our parents became martyrs. Injured in these attacks, we are now in hospitals in Gaza. However, even in these hospitals, we are still targeted by bombings. Many children have died in the hospitals, and some have been rescued alive from the wreckage. We fear that we might not survive any future attacks. Like thousands of Palestinians, we may end up buried in mass graves. Before being laid to rest, we want to convey a message to children around the world. We want to share this message because we believe that, like us, all children worldwide are innocent. Our only 'crime' is being born to Palestinian parents in the coastal Gaza Strip.

We used to hear in school that Gaza is the world's biggest prison. But after October 7, 2023, Gaza has turned into the biggest killing ground in the world. I don't know how many children were injured in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. However, due to Israel's bombing, we have witnessed the death of thousands of Palestinian children right before our eyes. Most of these deceased Palestinian children had not yet learned to speak. You might have seen the scenes of our mass killings on TV. I know witnessing our bloodied bodies and the cries of agony has deeply affected you. But we want to tell you, no matter what country, race, or ethnicity you belong to, never consider yourself completely safe. Our elders have turned this world into a place devoid of ultimate safety. Today, we are facing death. Tomorrow, perhaps, you will face something similar to what we are going through now.

Dear children! On October 28, the United Nations General Assembly passed a proposal for a significant vote in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza. The proposal, initially put forward by Jordan, was accepted three weeks after the start of the conflict in Gaza. The proposal was approved despite opposition from superpowers like the United States and Israel. However, after its approval, Israel has rejected it and continues the indiscriminate killing against us.

Between October 7 and 28, we have learned so much that you won't be able to learn in any class for the next thirty years. We spent nights under the open sky with many religious leaders, university professors, doctors, and nurses during that days. We remember the Christian priest from Al-Ahli Arab Hospital who brought us water bottles from his church. He shared the history of Palestine with us, describing it as the blessed land of countless prophets. We also recall the weary Muslim scholar who spent the entire day conducting funerals for Palestinians martyred in Israeli bombings. Seizing an opportunity, he approached us with his injured granddaughter to join the discussion led by the Christian pastor. Subsequently, the Christian clergy and Muslim scholars engaged in a conversation, emphasizing to each other that this wasn't the first genocide in Palestinian territories.

During the journey of Miraj (the Night Ascension), Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) came to this mosque from the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. He ascended to the seven heavens after leading the prayers for all the prophets. Surah Al-Isra (Bani Isra'il 17:84) of the Noble Quran testifies that the mosque was present in Jerusalem even before the Muslims arrived. In a hadith, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) stated that the first mosque built on Earth was the Masjid al-Haram (Kaaba). The second mosque was the Al-Aqsa Mosque. The construction of the first mosque took place 40 years after the creation of the Masjid al-Haram.

After the Hijra (migration), Muslims initially prayed facing towards the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Later, they changed the direction to the Kaaba in Mecca. In the era of Hazrat Umar Farooq (RA), when Muslims conquered Jerusalem, a mosque was built there. During the Crusades, Christians seized it, and later, it was reclaimed and restored by Salahuddin Ayyubi.

In 1914, during the onset of the First World War, Turkey sided with Germany against Britain. At that time, Britain made promises to several Arab leaders that if they supported Britain against Turkey, the Ottoman Caliphate would be abolished and handed over to the Arabs. On the other hand, Britain told the Jews that if they assisted Britain in financing this war, they would turn Palestine into Israel. In 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour announced that they would grant Jews a homeland in Palestine. But, the Arab Sheikhs could not realize this.

After the Second World War, Britain began establishing Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories. On November 29, 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution proposing the establishment of two states named Palestine and Israel. The resolution also aimed to make Bait al-Maqdis an international administration under UN supervision. Because it was considered a holy place by followers of the three major religions — namely Islam, Christianity, and Judaism — but Israel disregarded the UN decision and occupied Bait al-Maqdis.

Israel has tried to wipe out Palestinians before, but those attempts failed. In 1969, an extremist Jewish attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque prompted the creation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). In the current Gaza genocide (2023), OIC passed only a resolution condemning the actions, without much impact.

We urge children worldwide, not just for us but for your future and global security, to speak out before ongoing Israeli bombings claim the lives of Palestinian children. Otherwise, you might face the same troubles we're going through.

Lastly, we want to tell the OIC elders that we will remain immortal even after death. Unfortunately, it seems you consider yourselves alive when, in reality, you have already died!

[Concisely Adapted from Daily Jang]

Translation: Fayez Ahmed