In a powerful act of remembrance and protest, activists in Barcelona have unveiled a colossal beach portrait of five-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, whose tragic death during the Gaza conflict has become a symbol of the war's devastating impact on children.
Massive Tribute on Barcelona Sands
Several hundred demonstrators gathered on a Barcelona beach Thursday to hold aloft a 55-metre-long (180-foot) tarp bearing Rajab's portrait. The enormous image was displayed alongside a large Palestinian flag and the poignant message, "Free Gaza's Children." The event marked two years since Rajab's death during Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
A Voice That Travelled Beyond the Car
Hind Rajab's final hours have been documented in the award-winning film The Voice of Hind Rajab, which won the Silver Lion at last year's Venice Film Festival and has received an Academy Award nomination. The film recounts how, during Israel's response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Rajab became trapped in a car under Israeli fire for hours.
In desperate telephone calls to Palestinian medics, the five-year-old pleaded for rescue while her aunt, uncle, and three cousins lay dead around her. When an ambulance finally reached the location, contact was lost with both the girl and the rescue team. Their bodies, along with those of two ambulance workers, were recovered twelve days later.
Mother's Heartfelt Appeal
Watching the unveiling of her daughter's portrait, Hind's mother, 29-year-old Wesam Hamada, made an emotional appeal for international attention. "The children of Gaza do not ask for pity," she stated. "They ask for their right to live, to sleep without fear, to play without bombs, to grow up, just to grow."
Jordanian-Canadian actress Saja Kilani, who portrayed a Palestinian Red Crescent first responder in the film and attended the protest, reflected on Rajab's enduring legacy. "The voice of Hind Rajab did not stay in the car," Kilani observed. "It travelled across borders."
Military Response and Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
When questioned about Rajab's death this week, the Israeli military stated the incident remains under review and declined further comment. Israeli forces maintain they never deliberately target civilians in the conflict, accusing Hamas militants of endangering Palestinian lives by using them as cover.
The protest occurs against a backdrop of continued suffering in Gaza. The United Nations describes the humanitarian situation as "dire" three months into an Israel-Hamas ceasefire following a two-year war that left the territory devastated. Aid officials report children are among the hardest hit by severe shortages of shelter, food, and basic services including healthcare.
The Barcelona demonstration serves as both a memorial to one young victim and a broader call to action regarding the plight of Gaza's children, whose lives remain profoundly affected by conflict and deprivation.
