We Are Not Numbers: The Voice of a Woman from the Heart of Gaza

Amid the ongoing genocide tearing lives and dreams apart in Gaza, Hadeel Abu Zaid, a 29-year-old woman, stands as a symbol of resilience. She was not just a project manager at a local NGO but a spirit carrying an unwavering belief in the power of youth to bring about change, dream, and reshape reality despite the surrounding destruction.

Before the war, Hadeel focused on empowering young people, helping them develop their skills, and firmly believing that their voices were the power that could transform society. She created youth platforms, launched initiatives, and sowed hope in the faces of Gaza’s youth, who were exhausted by the siege. But with the war’s eruption, all visions collapsed, and dreams were buried beneath the rubble.

Her role shifted from a project manager to someone who now shared the collective pain. She was displaced more than five times, lost loved ones, and watched places she once considered safe transform into ruins. Despite all this hardship, she never once thought of withdrawing. She didn’t just offer services from a safe space; she lived the same suffering, the same pain, and the same fear. She was there, with the people, for them, standing alongside them.

Hadeel recalls one harsh night: the cold was biting, the rain poured relentlessly, and the sound of bombing never stopped. She received a call from a woman in tears, her tent had been blown away, and she and her children were stranded in the streets. All Hadeel could offer was kind words, a small tent, and her human presence. The woman said, "For the first time, I feel I have a sister," and in that moment, Hadeel realized that strength doesn’t always come from providing solutions but from true presence and kind words that touch the hearts of those in need.

Hadeel doesn’t consider herself a superhero; she’s human, just like everyone else. She’s had moments of weakness and fear and often felt like she was about to collapse. But she found in the smallest moments, in a kind word or the smile of a child, the drive to keep going. Those moments, despite their simplicity, were like a spark of hope that lit her path during the darkest times.

Being a woman in Gaza, the challenges she faces are multiplied. It wasn’t just the danger to her life, but there were other societal challenges, where sometimes people question or look skeptically at a woman in such roles. Yet, these challenges didn’t stop her; on the contrary, they offered an opportunity to get closer to the women and girls who suffer in silence and to be their voice in their communities.

Hadeel may not have magical solutions, but she knows that the difference lies in the smallest of actions, in a kind word, in a tent handed over at the right time, and in food aid that alleviates a hungry family. This is the true difference. Hope is what remains from the heart of Gaza, and it is what gives her the strength to continue.

Hadeel ends her message: “In the heart of this devastation, I still believe that Gaza deserves life, deserves hope, and deserves to be heard.”

She Stands:Gaza is a personal initiative from the women of Gaza to amplify the voices of resilient women in Gaza who are navigating survival, family care, and community service amidst the ongoing crisis. Sharing their stories of strength, courage, and hope. #GazaWomen #Resilience #AmplifyVoices"