*710 soldiers aged not yet one, martyred* A-Poem

by Hassen Lorgat

This story has haunted me, compelling me to write and remember.On Sept. 16, Gaza’s Health Ministry released a 649-page document containing the personal information of 34,344 Palestinians killed by Israel’s onslaught on the enclave over the past 11 months. The list is incomplete as many have not yet been fully identified. Over 11,300 of the identified victims are children, and 710 of them were killed before they turned 1.

*710 soldiers aged not yet one, martyred*

the Universal law of humans says

everyone has a right

to a name

nationality

to life

And

Good neighbourliness

So the people shared,

but the bad ones had other ideas

… the good samaritans fled

With only their keys hidden in the human chest

close to their heart,

promising to return

three quarters of a century later

the killing machines eliminate all

Including

the halo of the permanent victims

As night becomes day,

some go and others come

just after floods of Al Aqsa’ broke its banks

they entered the world.

from time to time,

the holy ones whisper heroic new names

to the newborns as the would-be ululating women,

now dressed in mourners’ garbs, remain muted

710 elite fighters

not yet old enough to say

Mama, Papa

let alone Hamas

710 fighters

the women piercing through their hidden faces

Witness those who went before they came

Not yet 12 months old

Every now and then,

the families wait

and pray for the doves

bearing olive leaves

Every now and then,

the families wait

for the white storks

bearing their bundles of joy

It is now too dangerous to travel

as birds of prey

colonise the skies

Eagles – with USA etched on its wings

Not happy with starvation and thirst as weapons

they swiftly snoop down

snuffing their last breaths

Let me tell you of Muhammad Abu al-Qumsan,

the father who had to exchange

certificates named Aser and Aseel

from birth to death within 30 mins

FALLEN

at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah,

WAILING

It’s all he can do as he waves

goodbye to the twins

and his beloved Jumana as she walks with them to heaven’s gate

710 babies in one year

fighters

who fought only for a chance to live

1.11.24 Hassl

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2023/10/30/nameless-on-earth-known-in-heaven-gazas-unidentified

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Hassen Lorgat

Has worked in trade union movement, civic associations, and anti apartheid sports movement led by the South African Council on Sports (SACOS) as well as NGOs for the past while. He has worked with civil society groups opposing harmful and exploitative mining and extractivism. Hassen is active with the SA BDS Coalition.