When Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), peace be upon him, was cast into the well, every indication pointed to his demise. There was no room to speak of survival.
All the harsh circumstances had converged upon his childhood, abandoned in the depths of the well. Yet, the care and will of Allah altered the natural assumptions of the human mind. His prolonged stay in an old, desolate well caused him no harm. At the same time, Allah facilitated someone to lift him from the darkness of the well into the light of safety.
Yusuf of Gaza
A similar story unfolded in Gaza, mirroring the outlines of Prophet Yusuf’s tale, which showcased Allah's care through "Yusuf of Gaza." This story began at the besieged Martyr Kamal Adwan Hospital, surrounded by tanks and continuous bombardment, making the conditions extremely dire. This added to the pain of Raghd Al-Basyouni’s pounding heart as the moments of childbirth approached.
The hospital was entirely depleted of essential medical supplies. Medications were at zero, and the same applied to tools and equipment. Located in northern Gaza, the hospital was suffering from a severe shortage, not only in medical necessities but in everything else, including food for doctors and patients, reduced to half a small loaf of bread per day. Even that became unavailable as the siege and bombing continued, halting surgeries due to the lack of lighting and medical device functionality, preceded by the exhaustion of anesthetics.
A Difficult Labor
All these circumstances made childbirth for the pregnant woman from northern Gaza extremely challenging. Her body was weak from malnutrition, extreme fear, and the lack of the most basic needs for a pregnant woman.
The moment of delivery came despite the bombardment and intense fear that gripped not only Raghd but everyone in the besieged hospital. The minutes of childbirth felt like years to Raghd as her baby was born amidst numerous attempts to ensure their safety. This necessitated an urgent evacuation in an ambulance in search of a safer place. However, the occupation's missiles had other plans, targeting the ambulance and killing everyone inside.
These missiles deprived Raghd of the joy of motherhood and her newborn of his simplest rights—to nurse from his mother's breast and find warmth in her embrace. The baby became an orphan, exposed to the harshness of orphanhood from his first day of life and facing a merciless war.
Despite the painful scene and the magnitude of the crime, a miracle occurred, reminiscent of Prophet Yusuf’s story. Allah’s care for this infant, who was just a day old, became evident. Following the bombardment, an international convoy passed near the site and heard the baby’s cries.
Allah’s Care
Despite the bombing and the loss of everyone around, the infant remained alive, having survived over 24 hours alone in the rubble.
The convoy took the baby away from the site. Allah’s care and protection for this child surpassed the cruelty of the criminal occupation.
This war has turned Gaza’s children into stories like Yusuf’s. Many infants have been pulled from beneath the rubble of their demolished homes, their survival a testament to Allah’s care and mercy.
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