The Shujaiyeh district in Gaza City was decimated during this summer's shelling by Israel, where today children live amidst ruins and are amongst the hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians in Gaza. This is where 27-year-old Sameh Wadi, a Muslim resident, decided to spread some holiday cheer by creating an unusual sight: a fully-clad Santa Claus delivering gifts to war-weary children.
"The Gaza Strip's children are deprived of the normal, happy life that most children in the rest of the world enjoy," Wadi, 27, told Anadolu Agency.
Groups of children screaming in excitement followed Wadi, who has a degree in information technology, as he walked around ringing his bell, stopping to unwrap presents and pose for pictures with the children.
"It's a good chance to bring some entertainment to Gaza's children, who feel frustrated and depressed," Wadi said. "Children around the world wait for Santa every year."
Children run to Wadi in Sujaiyeh. Image by Belal Khaled.
While only 2,000 Christians live in Gaza, according to a rough U.N. estimate, Wadi felt compelled to use the occasion of Christmas as a way to bring smiles to children living with both painful memories and difficult realities. Over 400 residents of this neighborhood were injured this past summer, 72 were killed, and the U.N. estimates that nearly all of the children in this area are in need of psychological counseling.
While Wadi couldn't bring true relief, his presence brought a brief moment of respite and demonstrated an ecumenical moment in Gaza. Below are images of Wadi, captured by Issam Sammour and Belal Khaled of Anadolu:
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David Harris-Gershon is author of the memoir What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife?, recently published by Oneworld Publications.