The ongoing war in Gaza has claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians and forced many more to flee their homes. Amid the widespread devastation, the plight of animals often goes unnoticed. Yet, in the heart of the chaos, a young boy named Ahmed has captured global attention for his compassion and resilience.
Ahmed, just 8 years old, shares his love for gardening and caring for animals through a social media account managed by his father and older sister. He recently went viral after posting a heartbreaking farewell to a cat he had rescued but was unable to save. In a video that has touched the hearts of over 1.6 million viewers, the boy,known online as “Ahmed the Farmer”,tearfully asks his cat Leo to forgive him, apologizing for not being able to save its life.
The emotional moment struck a chord with people around the world, many of whom flooded the comments with messages of support and strength for the young boy.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Ahmed’s sister Tasneem shared how his journey of rescuing animals began. "It started when our older brother saved a cat that was being chased by stray dogs during the war," she said. "Ahmed was deeply affected by it. That’s when he made up his mind to help every cat he possibly could.
Saving cats in Gaza
While cats aren't the only stray animals in Gaza that need rescuing, Ahmed definitely feels for them the most. "The sky is wide. Birds can fly and escape, but cats have nowhere to go," he says, as his sister adds that dogs have now become aggressive due to hunger.
Twenty-two months into the devastating war sparked by Hamas' October 2023 attack, Gaza is on the verge of "generalised famine", the United Nations has said. Its 2.4 million residents are fully dependent on humanitarian aid, and live under the daily threat of air strikes.
Ahmed doesn’t go out to rescue cats himself because of the unsafe conditions caused by the war. His brother and neighbors bring in any injured or abandoned cats. Since then, he has helped save several cats, aspiring to become a professional animal rescuer once the war ends.
To save the cats, he shares whatever the family has to eat, which would be bread, rice or canned tuna — if available. "Rarely, small donations of cat food arrive, but they are very limited due to the blockade.
The lack of food and other necessities often makes it difficult for the young boy to be able to save all the cats he rescues, but keeps himself going by saying, "at least they died feeling loved, not alone".
Some of the cats Ahmed has saved include:
- Suzy: The first cat he ever rescued. Ahmed’s brother found her being chased by stray dogs during the war and brought her to him. Ahmed grew very attached to her, but unfortunately, she developed a severe abdominal infection. Due to the lack of available medical care, she could not be treated and sadly passed away. Her loss had a profound emotional impact on Ahmed and changed his perspective forever.
- Simba: Rescued from beneath the rubble, Simba still lives with Ahmed today.
- A small kitten: Found scavenging for food in the trash. Despite Ahmed’s efforts to save it, the kitten was too sick and passed away after a few days.
- Hopi: Found beside her deceased mother. Although Ahmed cared for her, Hopi’s weak immunity led to her eventual death.
- Leo: A cat Ahmed loved deeply and spent a great deal of time with.
'Stole my childhood'
The young boy, who has been rescuing cats since the age of six, says that the war "stole [his] childhood". "It took away my right to learn, to play, and even to live in a safe home with my family."
The worsening conditions in Gaza mean that Ahmed often falls sick and struggles to find medicine. "Many nights, he goes to sleep hungry," his sister says.
Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals need to power their generators.
The boy, however, keeps hope alive through gardening. His account also features many videos of his farming endeavours. In a video shared with Khaleej Times, the young child can be seen carrying a cat and saying that as soon as the water returns, he will plant seeds again and that he doesn't give up.
“I’m a kid… and I deserve to live,” he says.
Source: Khaleej Times
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
