Guilt, grief and strength: Gaza's 'sole survivor' children face life alone

Join the conversation Become a member

Thousands of children who lost their families in Israeli strikes navigate grief, trauma and adulthood with little support Every morning, 13-year-old Jana al-Motouq wakes up alone. The Palestinian girl prepares her own breakfast, washes her clothes and gets ready for school. Not long ago, those small tasks were done by her mother. “She used to wake us up, make breakfast, brush our hair,” al-Motouq said. “Now I do everything by myself.” That is because al-Motouq was the sole survivor of her family