Gaza children suffer severe trauma from war while Israeli‑Palestinian mothers promote reconciliation in Italy

In Gaza, 7‑year‑old Hala Lubbad lies in al‑Shifa hospital after an Israeli strike on 2 June burned her family home, killing her parents and siblings. Medical staff say she needs urgent specialised care abroad to prevent further tissue loss, and UNICEF reports that more than 21,000 Palestinian children have been killed and 44,000 injured since the conflict began, with thousands now orphaned.

Meanwhile, in Ostra, Italy, Palestinian mother Layla Al‑Sheikh and Israeli mother Robi Damelin, who each lost a child in the war, spoke at the municipal theatre as part of the Parents Circle – Families Forum. Their testimony underscores a grassroots push for non‑violence and dialogue, aiming to transform personal loss into a broader message of peace.