In a heartfelt letter addressed to President Joe Biden, Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha implored for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has cast a dark shadow over the holiday season. With the backdrop of Christmas celebrations around the world, Toha’s letter paints a stark contrast, highlighting the dire situation in Gaza.
Read: Mosab Abu Toha: prominent poet from Gaza ‘released’
Toha, known for founding Gaza’s only English language library, was detained by Israeli forces in November and was subsequently released. The poet behind “Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza,” has since fled to Egypt with his young family.
A desperate plea for peace
Toha began with warm wishes to President Biden and his family for a Merry Christmas but lamented that this year, he couldn’t send or receive the usual Christmas greetings. Instead, he penned his letter from Cairo, where he now resides with his wife and three children, the youngest of whom is only three years old. Toha described their harrowing journey out of Gaza, where they escaped the relentless violence and uncertainty that has engulfed the region.
“To everyone in the world, it’s a time for visiting family and friends, exchanging kisses and hugs,” Toha wrote. “But I’m unable to contact my parents and siblings. I cannot be sure whether my mother and father have food to eat and water to drink, whether they are breathing.”
Read: Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: love letter to Gaza children – review
Born in a refugee camp, Toha’s roots are just a few kilometres from where Jesus was born. While the world celebrates the birth of Jesus, Gaza mourned the deaths of its residents. The conflict has taken a devastating toll, with Israeli attacks leading to the discovery of countless casualties, including many children, buried beneath the rubble of their homes. As of writing, more than 20,000 people have been killed since the start of the bombardment on October 7th. Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack that day.
Stories of tragedy and resilience
Toha’s letter recounted the heartbreaking stories of Gazans who had been asked to evacuate their homes, only to face the horrors of war. In a recent attack on a neighbourhood in south Gaza, at least 88 people were killed, most of them children. The letter also highlighted the trauma endured by children in Gaza, who have witnessed multiple wars and lost family members in the violence.
“These children who were pulled amputated from under the rubble or lost members of their families,” Toha wrote, “What will become of them? I’m sure that not even the smartest psychologist or psychiatrist can fathom a right answer.”
His plea to President Biden was not for a specific political solution but a heartfelt request for an immediate ceasefire. He also expressed a desire for drones to remain in the sky after the ceasefire, allowing the world to witness the recovery efforts of the Gazan people as they rebuild their homes, schools, and communities.
Dreams of a brighter future
The poet’s dream, as expressed in the letter, is for Palestinians to have their own airport and seaport by the next Christmas, enabling him to share the beauty of his homeland with the world. He hopes to show his family and friends iconic locations in the United States and welcome international visitors to Gaza, a place rich in culture and resilience.
The letter concludes with a plea for peace and humanity: “For peace and for children and for humanity, let there be a ceasefire.”
Read: Rupi Kaur rejects Biden invitation over Gaza stance
As the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, this heartfelt letter to President Biden by Mosab Abu Toha serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for peace and a ceasefire in the region. Hence the world watches and hopes for an end to the suffering endured by the people of Gaza.