In Pictures: Aida camp mourns Gaza children

AIDA REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank - On the evening of 27 July, volunteers from the Aida Youth Centre meticulously painted the names of some 264 children killed by Israeli forces since 2 July 2014. The names were combined to form a memorial piece under the Key of Return, a two-tonne sculpture that rests 12 meters high and symbolizing the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

By 8am the next morning, the steady beats of Aida’s keshafa programme, a youth-led drum line reverberated throughout the camp's tiny alleys and concrete enclaves as younger children followed with signs demanding an end to Israeli war crimes. 

“When we are doing such protests and such events, we want to show the world that we are people seeking life, not death,” local activist Munther Amira said. 

After marching through the camp, a symbolic grave was rested under the memorial, wrapped in a Palestinian flag and lined with graphic photos of children killed in Gaza. Every young demonstrator wore a black t-shirt inscribed with the phrase, “Gaza is our Eid,” in stylised Arabic.

“In the camp we have tear gas and sound bombs and shooting but in Gaza there is bombing and people dying,” said 11-year-old Ruweda al-Azzeh. “We need to stand by them and remember them.”

The following night, dozens were bussed from the camp to Bethlehem's Nativity Church where a vigil was organised in solidarity with Gaza. Again largely led by the camp's youth, participants lit candles spelling, “Gaza,” while Aida Camp’s local DJ amplified the voices of two girls demanding justice from various world leaders and organisations. 

“According to what we are hearing and have seen from the news, I think the world is changing. It’s starting to be clear,” said Amira, after admitting he would not be celebrating Eid - the feast that comes at the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan - due to the situation in Gaza.

“We want to send a message to the whole world that we are all Palestinians – in Gaza, the West Bank and 1948. We want all the people of the world to be behind the demands for freedom and dignity for the Palestinian people.”