A Sunday afternoon in central Gaza turned deadly when an Israeli airstrike struck a roadside tent, killing several children, including four-year-old Massa Abed.
Massa had stepped outside with her rubber ball and doll to play, unaware that her final moments would come in the quiet town of Zawaida.
Her 16-year-old brother raced her limp body to the hospital on a donkey cart, only to be told she was already gone.
“She had a ball on her lap and a doll in her hand,” said her father, Samy Abed. “She’s four. What could she do?”
The Israeli military offered no comment on the strike, and it remains unclear who or what the intended target was near Deir al-Balah.
Israel has often accused Hamas of embedding itself in civilian zones, a claim it uses to justify its operations in densely populated areas.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 809 children have been killed since Israel resumed strikes over a month ago, with total deaths exceeding 52,000 since October 2023.
A six-week ceasefire ended on March 18 with renewed Israeli bombardment, killing hundreds and halting peace negotiations.
Israel maintains a strict blockade, blocking aid and food to Gaza, stating its intent is to pressure Hamas to release hostages.
At the hospital, Massa’s friends lay lifeless nearby, their playtime ended by war’s reach.
Her father clings to memories—photos, videos, her laugh—and the silence at the breakfast table where her seat remains painfully empty.
“We see her when we sleep,” he said. “But when we wake up, she’s still gone.”
