Australian boy, 10, opens up on ‘terrifying’ Gaza war zone

An Australian boy trapped in the Gaza Strip is running out of food and water, with no escape in sight. He’s written about what it’s been like in the middle of a war zone.

An Australian family from Adelaide is trapped in Gaza and unable to cross the Rafah border. Picture: Supplied

An Australian family trapped in the Gaza Strip is running out of food and water, with no escape in sight.

The Palestinian-Australian man, his wife and their two young children aged seven and 10 have been waiting at the Rafah border crossing to Egypt for over a week, with food and water quickly running out.

The family held out hope they could get escape through the Rafah crossing on Saturday as the border between Egypt and Gaza opened for the first time to allow in a small number of aid trucks. Yet no foreign nationals were allowed through.

The 10-year-old boy has written a first person piece on his experience. Read it below.

From Fantastic to Miserable!

By: M. A

Year 5, Adelaide, South Australia

Please don’t ask me: RUOK? Because I’m not. I don’t feel safe at all and I just want to go back to Australia where there’s peace. I will tell you my story.

Picture this, we are finally here at my grandpa’s house in Gaza. Can you imagine my dad hasn’t seen his family for 12 years! He is very excited to see his family. Yes!

MA with a parrot at Bonython Park in South Australia

We have planned a holiday for four weeks in Gaza. It felt like we were going to have lots of fun. We went to the beach, and it was really exciting since the waves were not very high.

My cousins came to grandpa’s house for a sleepover. We kept chatting all the time until midnight and that’s when we sneaked out to the kitchen and prepared a midnight feast (do not tell my mum!!).

A few days later we had our boys’ day out when we ate at a burger restaurant and then enjoyed ice-cream. Obviously my grandma makes better food than any restaurant! She made us pizza, spaghetti and many traditional Palestinian foods that include: fatta, makluba and many more.

The thing that made my day all the time were my two cats: a kitten called Choco and a bigger cat called Miko. Because of these two cats I was never bored.

After all these fun events, I’m in my bed it is around six o’clock in a strange Saturday morning. I heard a bombing sound! Everything changed … dad said that something very serious just took place and he was worried about us.

MA and Choco in his grandpa’s house.

We were very surprised and scared at the same time. As the day went by, we would hear bombing that got louder and louder. Not only that, but it was also very close.

My grandpa’s neighbour’s house exploded, and we could’ve died. Choco was frightened by the sounds of bombings too. she started to vomit, and we took her to the vet who gave her medicine.

Our area was targeted which meant it is either life or death. One day a building in the neighbourhood got hit by jets. We decided to escape to the hospital, and we were kind of half safe. Sadly we had to sleep on the floor … Due to rushing, we forgot a bag, so my uncle ran back to get it and while he was getting it, he noticed that Choco our kitten was dying.

Luckily Miko was alive, but we forgot to take it with us. That was very sad, Choco and Miko were my best friends, it broke my heart.

The next day we went to the borders, spent the day under the hot sun but the borders remained closed. So, we went to my uncle’s friend’s house near the borders and the next thing I know was a hospital got bombed, 500 people died.

MA competes at a school athletics carnival.

My grandpa’s house also got damaged. It is very sad; I’m literally crying right now. So still we were trapped and still there are terrifying air strikes. So, if the hospital isn’t safe, WHAT PLACE IS!

This is why I want to go back to Australia. I’m stuck here in Gaza, terrified of what will happen tomorrow? Will I be become an orphan? Will my parents be safe? Will we be able to make it to Australia?

So many questions going in my head. Why can’t we just go back … I miss playing soccer with my friends, riding my bike in the neighbourhood, this is an important one.

Have you realised I’m getting dumber I need to go back to school, I really love solving math problems too. And lastly I want to be in my own house, in my own room, in my own bed where I feel safe and cozy.

Originally published as Australian boy, 10, opens up on ‘terrifying’ Gaza war zone