In honor of Arab Mother’s Day (March 21), guest blogger and UNRWA USA’s Director of Philanthropy Hani Almadhoun writes a poem for the mothers of Gaza, and shares insight on what this day means for Palestine refugee mothers in Gaza and how you can honor the leading women in your life.

“In Gaza, she remains and her family she contains, she smiles no matter who complains. 

15 years ago, she lost her nephew to internal strife.

14 years ago, her niece fell to a mortar shell, and 12 years ago, she watched her daughter’s family break apart – unable to get a visa to unite with her husband.

Nine years ago, her young son lost his livelihood, forcibly retired from public service.

Seven years ago, her daughter packed her bags and moved her family to Egypt, in search of a better life.

Last year, her son passed away from COVID-19. This year, a Turkish coastal guard rescued her grandson from a near-death experience in an inflatable raft.

And yet, she remains in Gaza where she keeps going and makes sure that those who remain do not give in to despair. And despite the hopelessness felt all around her she loves, and she gives. Life continues for kids, her grandkids, and their kids because of her. A drop of happiness quenches her, brings her a smile in an ocean of tragedy and cruelty.

Palestine is my mother, and my mother is Palestine. She would not leave even if she could.”

- Poem by Hani for the mothers of Gaza

Introduction:

March 21 is a bittersweet day for many Palestinians, especially those who are separated from their families and loved ones. For me, today marks my 22nd Arab Mother’s Day away from my mom. An ocean and an entire continent separate me from my family in the Gaza Strip. But it’s not the physical distance that makes our reunion impossible, but rather the huge, terrifying walls, blockaded borders, and heavily guarded siege around the Gaza Strip that keeps my family unreachable. 

While I wish my mother would visit me, my daughters, and my wife here in the United States, the combination of her refugee status, the strict and unpredictable entry and exit permissions in Gaza, and her fear of leaving Palestine and never being allowed to return prevents her from visiting. I do not blame her, as leaving our homes sparks dark memories for all Palestinians.

Upbringing in Gaza:

Growing up in Gaza, I remember on Mother’s Day my whole family would gather at our house and organize a celebration for the women in our lives. Despite this being a tradition, my mother never expected anything, so we always managed to surprise her. She’d always say the same thing: “I don’t want you to trouble yourself for me!” But we weren’t troubled; we adored celebrating her, alongside my grandmother, aunts, and sisters.

This is not uncommon, as this day is celebrated elaborately and enthusiastically across the Arab world. As mothers celebrate this special day in the Middle East, North Africa, and across the diaspora - Arab pop stars release songs in honor of their mothers, street vendors compete to come up with creative ideas to sell gifts in honor of the occasion, and families spend time together to celebrate the strength and resilience of the women in their lives. 

As I age and raise a family of my own in the US, I am reminded of how important it is for my two daughters to connect and acknowledge their refugee roots and look to the previous generations of women as role models.

My mother is a pillar of stability in our lives, and despite facing the types of trauma that have defined the Palestine refugee experience of losing her home, living in a refugee camp, experiencing war, aerial bombardment, military invasions, and home raids - she raised us with love, optimism, and compassion for others.

UNRWA’s Role:

At this point in the year, I always take time to reflect on the struggles my parents faced growing up as refugees. My dad was the first child to be born to his parents after they became refugees. He was born in a makeshift medical tent in a refugee camp where UNRWA provided services. Three years prior to my father’s birth, his parents were forced to flee from their home in Ashkelon (‘Asqalān’ in Arabic), thinking their displacement was only temporary.

It was outside an UNRWA school where my dad and mother met and spent time together. Every day after school, my father would dutifully walk my mother home. It was through UNRWA that he found steady employment as a teacher. It was through UNRWA that my mother received the social services and humanitarian resources to provide for our family. As an UNRWA teacher, my dad created a lasting impact, helping advance the next generation of Palestinians. UNRWA was the reason my mother and many other young girls were educated, as the Agency gave families cash assistance and meals as an incentive to keep girls in school. 

The Agency is intertwined with many Palestine refugee families in Gaza and I credit it to the successes of both the men and women in my family.

For Our Mothers:

While all refugees suffer and face hardships, women and especially mothers, are the ones who tend to bear the greatest burden in holding the family together. In the case of my family, we were all born in different places, or forced to live in different countries, but it was the maternal figures that kept us united, focused on our education, and optimistic towards our futures.  

It is with this awareness that Arab Mother’s Day holds more significance in my mind. The women in our lives are the ones who often face the greatest hardship and burden, and yet receive the least credit and acknowledgment for their undue hardships.

So, to my mother and all the mothers in the world, to the sisters, aunts, and grandmothers, thank you for teaching us how to love and care. To admire the resilience and tenaciousness of Palestine refugees is to admire our women, as they are the reason that we are the way we are.  

Palestinian women, in particular, have achieved tremendous milestones. They are the visionary engineers, celebrated academics, resourceful teachers, brilliant scientists, compassionate doctors, smart businesswomen, and creative writers of our community. And in the case of my family, and many others in the Gaza Strip -  it was our UNRWA education and development services that helped pave the way for these successes.

Together, in the spirit of Arab Mother’s Day, I encourage you to honor the leading lady in your life and unlock the potential in all Palestinian women. Make a contribution to UNRWA USA and support the Agency in raising resilient women for their communities.