The night 16-year-old Bilal was arrested, he’d gone to the local shop. On his way there, he was ambushed by a group of undercover Israeli soldiers. They covered his head, handcuffed him and began beating him on the spot. He was then thrown into a military vehicle, where the beating continued all the way to the interrogation centre in Israel.  

Sana was born on 12 May 2024 in the north of Gaza. From when she was born until now, her life has been a story of war. Her father was killed in the war, leaving her mother to care for four children alone, with no income or support.

Amina was pulled out of school at the age of 12 and sent to work, before being married off to an older man who treated her violently for many years. Here, she recounts how a support centre at a local church - which Embrace is helping to fund through our partner MERATH - has helped her to rebuild her life…

The remarkable story of how Eduard turned his life around after an encounter with a Christian. He is now on the team of Embrace’s partner Aviv Ministry, providing shelter and support for Tel Aviv’s rough sleepers.

Esma has faced many difficulties in her short life due to a suspected metabolic disorder that has impeded her motor development. Born into a warzone, she has none of the usual scans or hospital treatment available. But thanks to the dedicated work of the staff of our partner the Princess Basma Centre, she is making remarkable progress...

“My life became meaningless when I lost my sight at the age of fifteen and I was denied the opportunity to complete my education. My life was filled with fear of many things, the first of which was becoming completely dependent…I used to feel marginalised and without value, and now I feel my importance in my community…”

When Belal learnt he had a serious heart condition and needed open-heart surgery, the news was doubly devastating. Without surgery he was unlikely to survive – but he had no way of paying for an operation. Thankfully he was able to find help through Embrace’s partner the St Vincent de Paul Society.

When Fatima moved in with her new husband at the Dbayeh Palestinian refugee camp, life was difficult. Poverty levels are high in the camp and making ends meet is a daily struggle. But, for Fatima, her main challenge was fitting in – as a Muslim she remained isolated from the camp’s mainly Christian residents. But all that changed when she went to the Embrace-supported library and community centre there.

In the last in our series of stories featuring extraordinary mothers we meet Nadeen, who had to go to incredible lengths to keep her two young daughters safe from the violent and unpredictable behaviour of their father.