"Distribute my clothes among needy Palestinians:" Gaza bombing victim's last will leaves people in tears

A handwritten will of 10-year-old Rasha Al-Arair, who was tragically killed alongside her 11-year-old brother Ahmad in an Israeli bombing in Gaza, has surfaced online.

Rescue teams discovered Rasha's note amidst the rubble of her home. In it, she meticulously outlined her final wishes.

"My will: Distribute my belongings as follows," she wrote. 

"I want my accessories to be given to my cousins Rahaf Marwan Al-Areer, Sara Al-Zahrana, Joudi Rajab, Lana Rajab, and Batoul Al-Areer.

"I wish for my bead boxes to go to Ahmed and Rahaf Marwan Al-Areer. My monthly allowance of 50 shekels should be split equally, 25 shekels each, between Rahaf and Ahmed."

Ahmed Al-Arair, 11 years old, and Rasha Al-Arair, 10 years old, were pulled out alive from the rubble 3 months ago after an Israeli attack targeted their home.

Today, they were once again targeted by an Israeli attack, but this time, both children's bodies were pulled out from… https://t.co/OmIhwnuxug pic.twitter.com/CYDN8gktjZ

— Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) October 2, 2024

Her will also include instructions for her personal items as she advised to give her "stories and notebooks to Rahaf and her toys to Batoul."

Rasha's thoughtfulness extended to her brother as she pleaded, "Please do not shout at my brother Ahmed."

The young girl confronted her mortality with remarkable courage: "I hope you will not cry for me as it aches me to see you in tears."

Rasha Al-Arair's heartbreaking yet inspiring will has left an indelible mark on all who have read it.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military offensives have resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian lives lost, including 16,456 children and 11,000 women. 

The bombings have also left almost 95,497 people injured and the United Nations reported that two-thirds of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed.

The United Nations (UN) reported that two-thirds of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been "damaged or destroyed." Israeli attacks have also killed at least 270 aid workers.

The restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies have exacerbated the situation in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) directed Israel to ensure basic services and humanitarian aid delivery in the besieged enclave.

The Palestinian government's information office reported that almost 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced due to relentless air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military.

Thousands of children in Gaza have been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Earlier, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) head Cindy McCain said people in Gaza are starving to death.

The WFP estimated that around 1.1 million people are "struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation" due to Israel's severe restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies to the besieged enclave.