Gaza 'Marathon' Draws Attention to Orphans and Humanitarian Crisis
Maram Humaid
Dozens of Palestinian children in Khan Younis participated in a race on Friday to highlight the plight of over 58,000 children orphaned by the war. The event, organized by INH Indonesia, aimed to raise awareness and encourage support for families caring for orphans in Gaza.
When the whistle blew, dozens of boys and girls in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis sprinted forward together in a race held on Friday. The event aimed to spotlight the circumstances of children who have lost a parent in Israel's war against Palestinians in the territory.
Saif Hijazi, 13, whose father, Rami Hijazi, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on their family home in northern Gaza in January 2024, could not join the run. Saif has been paralyzed since January 2025 after Israeli shelling hit the family's tent as they were displaced. He sat in a wheelchair watching his younger siblings run alongside other orphans.
"Since I was injured, I can't walk or move on my own anymore," Saif said slowly. "I just want my life to be better."
According to Gaza health authorities, Israeli attacks since October 2023 have killed more than 73,000 people. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says over 58,000 children in Gaza have lost a parent, while more than one million children need protection and psychosocial support. UNICEF also estimates that about 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated from their families.
The organization International Networking for Humanitarian (INH) Indonesia organized the race to raise awareness about the plight of orphans and encourage support for the families caring for them. "Orphans are always among the hardest hit in war," said Mohammed Yassin, INH Indonesia's project coordinator. "No matter how hard the organization tries, we can't reach all of them."
Warda Hijazi, 33, Saif's mother, said that since her husband's death, she has had to care for her three children alone, with Saif additionally suffering from kidney failure. "Everything became my responsibility. Food, medicine, raising them, and trying to make up for the love they lost," she said. After multiple displacements, her family now shelters in a makeshift tent camp in al-Zawaida, central Gaza.
Samah Abu Amra, 43, a widow with five children from Rafah, shared a similar burden after her husband was killed in an Israeli attack. "I can't provide everything they need. The children need psychological, financial, and emotional support. They need food, clothing, education, and time to play. It's too much responsibility for one mother to bear alone," she said.
At the race, the children received medals after crossing the finish line. Organizers also honored 100 orphans, with Saif Hijazi called first as a tribute to his resilience. "My son needs to feel he is still part of this world, that people see him and care about him," Warda said emotionally. "These orphans have lost so much, but they still deserve more support and hope."
