PARIS/ISTANBUL, March 8 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Palestinian women are placed at the centre of life, according to Imane Maarifi, a French nurse of Moroccan descent, who spoke to Anadolu Ajansi (AA) about her volunteer work in Gaza.
"Palestinians have a deep respect for women. Women are truly at the centre of life, and you can immediately tell that they have been raised in this respect," Maarifi said.
She described an unexpected sense of equality, noting that she often ate meals prepared by men, with women prioritised in serving, while men were served afterwards, if any food remained.
"I imagined, perhaps, a country with a more dominant patriarchy, but to my great surprise, that wasn’t the case," she said.
Maarifi also observed that female workers were provided with a room that included a bathroom, while their male colleagues were assigned to a bare room.
"This was my first time in Palestine, and as a humanitarian worker, I was received with great respect," she added.
Maarifi highlighted that women in Gaza struggle to access basic necessities, such as sanitary pads, while mothers consistently prioritise their children in all circumstances.
"What I saw among women there were mothers who couldn’t bathe every day because they preferred to use the water to bathe their children," she said.
She also pointed to the "dire" food situation in Gaza, where constant rice consumption has led to severe digestive problems.
Maarifi noted that when mothers had access to fibre-based foods and dietary aids, they prioritised giving them to their children first.
"Of course, a mother always has that instinct, but in Gaza, under genocide, it becomes even stronger. They completely lose their sense of personal priorities — their only priority is their children," she added.
She further emphasised that women are celebrated every day in Gaza.
"In Gaza, March 8 happens every day. Women are truly honoured every single day. Maybe in the West, we should learn from them," Maarifi concluded.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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