I want to tell you a story that says so much about the world we're living in today.
It's a story of extraordinary courage, compassion, unimaginable loss, and a family's relentless fight for justice.
But above all, it's a story about humanity.
His name was Tom Hurndall.
In April 2003, Tom was a 21-year-old British photography student volunteering in Gaza with the International Solidarity Movement, documenting the lives of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
On April 11th, in Rafah, he saw Palestinian children exposed to gunfire. Rather than turning away, Tom helped them reach safety.
He was wearing a fluorescent vest, clearly identifying himself as an international volunteer.
An IDF soldier shot him in the head.
Tom spent nine months in a coma before dying in January 2004, aged just 22.
What followed was an extraordinary battle for justice, led by his parents, Jocelyn and Anthony.
The Israeli military's initial account was challenged. His family fought relentlessly to expose what had happened.
Eventually, the soldier responsible was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison. He served just six.
A British inquest concluded that Tom had been deliberately and unlawfully killed, but no senior Israeli commander has been convicted in connection with his death.
More than two decades later, the questions raised by Tom's killing remain devastatingly relevant.
What happened to Tom cannot be separated from what has happened to countless Palestinians.
The killing of civilians. The destruction of homes, hospitals and schools. The displacement of communities. The obstruction of humanitarian aid. Children whose lives have been shattered by cruelty and occupation.
These aren't simply unavoidable consequences of military operations.
UN investigators have documented war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israeli forces, and concluded that genocide has been committed in Gaza.
And through it all, the international community has failed. Failed to protect innocent lives, uphold international law and to hold those responsible to account.
Tom died protecting children from violence the world continues to witness today.
More than two decades have passed. Generations of Palestinian children have grown up amid occupation, displacement and fear.
How many more innocent lives must be destroyed before those responsible are held accountable?
And then there's Tom's mother, Jocelyn.
Having endured the unimaginable loss of her son, Jocelyn began a relentless fight for justice. Not just for Tom, but for Palestinian families who have suffered devastating losses, without accountability or recognition.
She has also dedicated years to supporting Palestinian education and opportunities for young people.
Her son lost his life protecting Palestinian children. She has spent so much of her own life defending their rights, dignity and futures.
In his short life, Tom demonstrated more courage, compassion and humanity than many manage in a thousand lifetimes. And through Jocelyn's determination, those values live on.
Tom's story is not simply a tragedy from 2003.
It is a reminder of the human cost of occupation, and the courage of those who refuse to look away.
Tom saw children in danger. He recognised their humanity. He acted. And he paid with his life.
Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
That's why Gaza is about so much more than Gaza itself. It's about whether human rights and international law mean anything if we allow them to be ignored when it is politically convenient.
Never be silent in the face of injustice. Never accept that another person's life matters less because of where they were born.
Remember Tom. Honour his courage. And never stop standing up for those he died trying to protect. ❤️
@jocelynhurndall
#GazaGenocide #FreePalestine