Three years after the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed 1,200 people, took 251 hostages, and ignited a devastating war in Gaza, two teenagers living on opposite sides of the border reflect on how they are coping with the ongoing fallout. Ron Shargian, now 15, was 12 when Hamas militants launched their assault on southern Israel. Seventeen of his neighbors in Netiv HaAsara were killed, and Shargian spent 11 hours locked inside his home’s bomb shelter with his family before being rescued. After enduring years of displacement across various hotels and towns, his family finally returned to their community a little over a year ago. Shargian admits that returning was difficult and that the events of that day broke something inside him regarding the possibility of peace. Yet, he tries to lead a normal teenage life by playing the guitar and visiting the beach with friends. While air raid sirens and rockets still trigger an immediate physical reaction, he notes that he and other Israelis have grown accustomed to the constant tension. Across the border in Gaza, 14-year-old Kazem Doghmash faces a starkly different reality following Israel’s military retaliation. Doghmash, who was 11 when the conflict began, says much of his life has been destroyed, including his school and family home. Despite a cease-fire that took effect last October, Palestinian officials report that violence continues to claim lives in the territory. Doghmash notes that the daily struggle for survival often overshadows typical teenage pursuits, yet he remains determined to pursue his education at a relocated campus and hopes to become a doctor. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, more than 21,000 Palestinian children have been reported killed in Gaza since the conflict started, alongside dozens of Israeli children, including 37 killed during the initial Hamas assault. Despite the immense trauma they have endured, both Shargian and Doghmash continue to search for moments of normalcy amidst the ongoing regional crisis.
Source: cbsnews.com
