Christmas Spirit Amid Chaos: A Gaza Woman’s Determination to Celebrate
Khan Younis, Gaza – In the midst of war and devastation, 31-year-old Mayess Hamid embodies resilience as she prepares Christmas cookies in her makeshift kitchen, set against the backdrop of destruction in Gaza. Once employed at one of the region’s largest bakeries, Hamid lost her job when it was bombed amid the ongoing conflict.
This year, despite facing immense challenges, she is determined to spread holiday cheer. “I wanted to start the year with optimism and make Christmas cookies to distribute to the children around me in the camp,” she states while kneading dough in her tent, a small space lacking basic equipment and supplies. Hamid has been displaced nine times since her family’s flight from Zeitoun to al-Mawasi in Khan Younis.
The severe food shortages and aid blockades complicate her endeavor. Drawing from her baking experience, she creatively substitutes unavailable ingredients; her new frosting combines liquid cheese with powdered sugar. Lacking traditional cookie cutters, she uses stencils crafted from paper, demonstrating her ingenuity and spirit.
“As the war has taken my home, it has also complicated basic tasks like baking,” she laments, highlighting the struggles of those in Gaza during this festive season. While decorating the cookies, Hamid reflects on the stark contrast between the festivities of the outside world and the hardships faced by her community.
“Even in despair, we try to smile, but our wounds run deep,” she admits, revealing the emotional toll of living in a conflict zone. Despite these challenges, Hamid’s Christmas wish remains profound: peace for herself, her children, and all of Gaza. “Just let the war stop. Let the killing and destruction end so we can live in peace,” she pleads, underscoring her hope amid despair.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
