Washington, DC – Julia Fawzi Saeed Al-Kurd lost her life at just one year old in an Israeli air raid on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza on October 11. Her name was included in local reports on the day of the attack and later on a list of Palestinian health ministry in Gaza.
Activists in Washington, DC are striving to remember children like Julia. On Capitol Hill, they protested silently, distributing leaflets and displaying small figures wrapped in white shrouds, each bearing the name of a real child killed in Gaza, including Julia.
Hazami Barmada, of Palestinian and Syrian descent, organized protests to bring awareness to the humanity of those under siege. She and her group hand out flyers and hold “die-in” protests at various locations, aiming to prompt conversations about the US role in the conflict. They are critical of President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel and the significant US aid the country receives.
Barmada and her group have faced both approval and hostility from the public, including a recent incident involving a woman’s profanity-laden, racist tirade, which was captured on video and went viral on social media.
However, Barmada remains committed to her cause and sees her activism as a success if it can prompt people to see their own children and humanity in relation to the lives lost in the war in Gaza.