19 October 2024

Corpses are everywhere

Another heartbreaking message from Gaza. From Omar Hamad, a writer and pharmacist. Damn this world that does not care. There is no point in words. No one is listening. Nothing will change.

Since yesterday, I have been trying to contact my friend in northern Gaza, but there is no signal.

A few minutes ago, he sent me a message saying: "My entire family is in the south, with you. I want to entrust them to you and ask that you stay with them. I am definitely, definitely dead—now, or an hour from now, or maybe later. I am running and gasping between the corpses in the streets. The bombing is everywhere. Our other friends have been arrested by the occupation forces, along with their families. After that, we lost contact with them. Pray for me, my friend."

This time, it is my tears writing, not my damned hand.

How can I read the will of my lifelong friend and beloved?

How can I witness all this agony and be unable even to comfort my friends with a word?

What am I supposed to do with these tears that are pouring so heavily from my eyes? Can they bring anything back?

Oh God, oh God, take us to you. Take us to you, God. Take me to any place you wish, but get me out of this world.