Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatrician who has treated patients in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli aggression, shared harrowing accounts with Democratic party members, describing children who have lost their entire families and endured severe injuries and amputations. The trauma was so widespread that a new term was created for these cases: "wounded child, no surviving family."

Dr. Haj-Hassan participated in a panel on Palestinian human rights at the Democratic National Convention, marking the first official panel on this issue hosted by the Democratic Party. She is among the many medical professionals who wrote to President Joe Biden's administration in July to report the severe conditions they have witnessed while treating patients in Gaza.

The hundreds of attendees cried as Dr. Haj-Hassan recounted her experiences and other panelists shared their personal losses in Gaza. She described a young boy who arrived at the emergency room with severe injuries to his face and neck, lamenting that, since all his loved ones had passed away, he wished he had died as well. Haj-Hassan also spoke about holding the hands of dying children, as there were no remaining family members to provide comfort in their final moments.

'My family’s dead, y’all. They’re dead'

Hala Hijazi, a panel organizer who has lost over 100 family members in Gaza, expressed a deep sense of obligation to speak out about the situation. 

“My family’s dead, y’all. They’re dead. And I feel guilty because for 25 years I’ve been living my American dream while they are struggling,” she heartfully said.

The panel was held as Democrats gathered in Chicago for the revamped 2024 US election, rallying around Kamala Harris. However, they are still awaiting clarity from Harris on how her stance differs from Biden's on the situation in Gaza.

Read next: Kamala Harris denies intention to consider Israeli arms embargo

The organizers had sought a prominent main-stage slot for Dr. Haj-Hassan to highlight the Israeli war on Gaza but were only given a panel and press conference space, located away from the central stage. With the convention underway, they are still advocating for a main-stage speaking opportunity for a Palestinian American leader, with no response yet from the DNC.

'The prize is a change in policy'

Despite the limited visibility of the panel, organizers considered it a significant step forward in their efforts to persuade the Democratic Party and its delegates to endorse a ceasefire and arms embargo against "Israel". This cause has mobilized thousands of demonstrators outside the convention and brought 30 uncommitted delegates to the event, following nearly 750,000 uncommitted ballots cast in the primaries.

Jim Zogby, founder and president of the Arab American Institute, viewed the panel as an initial move to apply pressure on the party at the convention. “It is not the prize – the prize is a change in policy, that’s the prize, that’s what we want,” he stressed.

The panelists urged the attendees, many wearing ceasefire pins, “Not Another Bomb” shirts, or Koufiyyehs, to actively advocate for this cause and press Kamala Harris on the issue of Gaza.

The current Democratic Party platform does not call for an arms embargo or outline any policy shifts from the Biden administration. It asserts that Biden is committed to brokering a “strong, secure, and democratic” "Israel". It is worth noting that the party delegates are set to vote on the platform this week.

Read next: Abandon Harris movement seeks third-party support amid Gaza war