Ghanima's Tragedy

“I wish my brother would come back to me”

Ghanima is a seventeen-year old girl living in Al Salateen Quarter in Gaza, which was one of the most heavily, affected areas by the last Israeli war on Gaza. Ghanima is a student at the secondary school and lives with her family, consisting of eight members. All of them live in two small tents in Al Salateen Quarter in Gaza, and they have been living there since their house was demolished by the Israeli forces during the last war on Gaza. Ghanima's family is simple and modest. Ghanima's suffering started when her family was forced to flee their house in Al Salateen Quarter on January 5, 2009 as a result of the continued Israeli bombardment and the consequent lack of food supplies. Ghanima's family fled to one of UNRWA's schools in Al Zytoon Quarter in Gaza as all Palestinian families did thinking that it was under the protection of UNRWA.  No sooner had they arrived at the school and begun to settle down, they heard a tremendous explosion which rocked the area at night. People taking shelter in the school rushed out to see what was going on; they were shocked to see that a group of young men who were standing in the school yard were targeted by an Israeli warplane. Unfortunately, Hussein 24 years old, Ghanima's older brother was among the martyrs. When Ghanima heard the huge explosion, her heart leapt with fear and anxiety about her brother. Unfortunately, her feelings were true and justified. When she heard about the martyrdom of her brother, she was shocked. She has never imagined that her brother who was going out to the toilet just for five minutes would be lost forever and would never come back because of the brutal aggression of the Israelis. The members of the family were tremendously shocked by the news, but Ghanim's shock was deeper as she was closely attached to her brother. They were each other’s confidents. They were very close to each other.   

Ghanima still does not believe what happened to her brother. Even after his martyrdom, she used to stand at the school gate hoping that one day he will come back to his home and family.  

What added to the sufferings of Ghanima's family was that when they returned to their simple house after the end of the war, they found nothing but the ruins of their house waiting to be removed.

This trauma affected Ghanima terribly, especially regarding her academic performance at school. She failed her general secondary school examination, a matter which increased her pains and sufferings. Her failure gave her the feeling that all doors of normal life were shut in her face. Ghanima lost hope in any success in the future. She gave up any attempt to try again and work for the school examination any more. Ghanima is still thinking of her brother. She always imagines him standing before her as if nothing had happened to him.

Before this disastrous event, Ghanima led a very normal life among her family like all Palestinians. Just feeling all the family together was enough to make Ghanima happy and gave her feelings that she is missing nothing.

Ghanima's family does not feel now that life has any meaning or value. Every moment reminds them of their dead son, Hussein, which adds to their suffering and pains.

Ghanima says, “I wish I was able to prevent him from going out at that damned moment."

Ghanima came with her mother to Gaza Community Center of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme. When she came, she was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, which included loss of appetite, insomnia, nervousness, easily provoked by minor reasons, and lack of desire to see people or interact with them. She also suffered from depression and lack of desire to live.

Ghanima had many therapeutic sessions including emotional debriefing, family support and medical treatment. After the first therapeutic sessions, Ghanima showed little improvement, but her failure to pass the secondary school exam added to her pains and suffering, and led to complications of her case. Gaza Community Center is still following up Ghanima's case and is always in touch with her and her family.