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"I am here selling flowers to spread joy among people during the
war in the hope that this changes their mood, makes them happy
and puts a smile on their faces," said Abdulhadi, who like most
Gazans has himself been displaced by the conflict.
He said many of his customers bought the flowers for injured
family members, for relatives in hospital or for those who have
lost their homes during the Israeli military offensive.
"This raises the spirits and brings optimism after what we
witnessed from war, destruction, and the destruction of homes,"
said resident Wafaa al-Arraj, clutching a red rose.
At least 25,700 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 64,000
injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7, the territory's
health ministry said on Wednesday.
The strikes are in retaliation for a rampage on Oct. 7 by
militants of the Hamas group that runs Gaza in which Israel says
1,200 were killed and 253 taken hostage.
The tiny coastal territory's population now live packed into
communal shelters in U.N. schools or in makeshift tent camps.
Abdulhadi obtains his flowers from a plant nursery in Rafah and
sells them for the equivalent of about 80 U.S. cents apiece. But
he gave one for free to Rafat al-Satari, a 16-year-old kidney
dialysis patient being wheeled by his sister out of a nearby
hospital.
"(The rose) has improved his mood, given him hope," said his
sister Mahar al-Satari, adding their mother and two siblings had
been killed by Israeli shelling. "God willing, Rafat will hold
on to hope, especially after what he has been through."
(Writing by Gareth Jones, Editing by William Maclean)
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