From the stage of the Second World Summit on Social Development, Samah Hamad — the Palestinian minister of social development — described how the smell of slow-cooked lamb, fresh herbs, and warm bread once filled the corners of Palestinian homes.
She explained how mothers would place dishes on kitchen tables, calling children to gather beside her as the food cooled. She spoke of how that scene used to play out across the cities, villages, and refugee camps. But in Gaza, she said, all of those tables were gone.
“There is no meal, no smell, no family,” said Hamad, addressing government leaders in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday. “This is Gaza today.”
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About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
