On May 10, mothers in the US, Canada and elsewhere will receive flowers and chocolates. But in Gaza, where 22,000 women have been killed in two and a half years, many children dread this day because it reminds them of unbearable pain.

The author's mother, Najat, 46, is suffering from cancer diagnosed late. On March 21, when the Arab world celebrated mothers, the author silently prayed for her mother to stay longer, holding back tears.

Before Mother's Day, her mother had undergone her third round of chemotherapy and was bedridden. The author stayed silent to avoid adding to her pain.

Maternal death rates during childbirth tripled during the genocide. A report documented 220 Palestinian women dying while giving birth between January and June 2025. Famine disproportionately affected pregnant and breastfeeding women, with 70,000 children suffering from malnutrition.

Over 22,000 women have lost their husbands and now bear the sole burden of caring for their children. More than 21,000 children have been killed in Israeli attacks. Homes lack water, electricity, and food; tents offer no protection from heat or cold.

The Israeli regime has bombed all hospitals, including the only oncological hospital. Cancer and chronic illness patients receive no treatment, and early detection is impossible. Doctors told the author her mother's cancer had likely been growing for two years.

The author has taken over household duties, while her three-year-old sister believes their mother's hair will grow back. The mother awaits a mastectomy; radiation therapy is unavailable in Gaza. 20,000 Palestinians need evacuation, but the process is deliberately slow.

The mother often sighs while looking at her evacuation referral. The author fears her mother's heart cannot bear the pain. The suffering of Gaza's mothers will remain unseen, as intended by the architects of the genocide.

Source: www.aljazeera.com