Mother Brings Three-Month-Old Baby to Gaza "Return March," Declares: We Will March to Our Villages - Martyrs in the Millions - - Scenes from Gaza "Return March"

Maryam Abu Qandil, a three-month-old baby brought to the Gaza "Return March," is the focus of an April 6 report by the Palestinian Authority TV channel. Her mother, Nasrin Abu Yusuf, said that she is the youngest baby to come to the "Return March," and added that "we shall remain loyal to the wills of the martyrs, which were written in their pure blood." The anchor urged the reporter to get the baby's name "so that the world will know the name of the youngest baby in the Great Return March," and added that bringing a three-month-old baby to the march, "to realize her will to return to her land and her home, despite all the weapons, the snipers, and the tear gas," reflects "eternal love for Palestine and its children."

Reporter: "Many families have arrived here since this morning, including women, children, and the elderly, as well as the young. We see something else here, an image that some might consider 'wrong,' but each of us is entitled to freedom of opinion and expression, and the freedom to convey their message to the world. I am talking about a baby, no more than three months old, with her mother, carrying a Palestinian flag. Please introduce yourself."

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "I'm Nasrin Abu Yusuf, from Khan Yunis."

Reporter: "Nasrin, how old is the baby in your arms?"

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "She is the youngest Palestinian baby to come to the 'Return March.' Allah willing, we shall remain loyal to the wills of the martyrs, which were written in their pure blood."

[...]

Reporter: "OK, Nasrin, your baby is around three months old?"

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "Yes."

Reporter: "Aren't you concerned for her, because of the tear gas and smoke?"

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "Nothing afflicts you unless Allah has ordained it for you."

Reporter: "What do you think about the participation of women? Many women are taking part in this march today."

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "Allah be praised, we've had enough – the martyrs, the women, the situation, the blockade of Gaza... Enough. The people are sick and tired of this. We want to return to our villages, from which we were driven out unjustly. We want to go to our villages. Allah willing, we will march there – martyrs in the millions."

Reporter: "What is your message to the women and mothers in this 'Great Return March'?"

Nasrin Abu Yusuf: "Allah willing, each and every one of us is returning to our villages. We are marching. No one will stop me. I have brought my sons and daughters to this march. Allah willing, we are marching."

Reporter: "We wish you and your baby all the best, Nasrin. As we said, Muhammad..."

Anchor: "Excuse me, Safa, could you please get the name of the baby, so that the world will know the name of the youngest baby in the 'Great Return March'?"

Reporter: "Unfortunately, as you can see, she has already left, but I will ask our colleague Yousef to get the baby's name. The mother is called Nasrin. As we said, she is the youngest baby here. She is three months old, and she is carrying the Palestinian flag. [The mother] also seems to be carrying mint, in an attempt to make sure that the baby smells the best fragrances."

Anchor: "Safa, this is the eternal love for Palestine and its children, who are brought up to love their land and to face all the challenges imposed on them – when a three-month-old baby comes to this march with her mother, to realize her will to return to her land and her home, despite all the weapons, the snipers, the tear gas, despite all this..."

Reporter: "Yes, Muhammad, her name is Maryam Abu Qandil, she is from the Governorate of Khan Yunis, and as we have said, she is three months old."