Gazini Ganados is 'sick to her stomach' over Israel-Hamas war that's affecting her Palestinian family
"Sick to my stomach."
Those were the words Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados used to describe how she is feeling after her family in Palestine continues to suffer from the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
Ganados took to Instagram to share the conversations she had with her family living in Gaza regarding their difficult situation in the city, which have roused her to break her silence on her stand on the war.
"Sick to my stomach. This has been a heartbreaking week for so many of us. I'm scared, disturbed, deeply saddened. We can always be doing more," the beauty queen opened her lengthy message.
"As some of you may know, I recently just kept in touch with my father and my family who is now living in Palestine, Gaza. I’ve been keeping my thoughts to myself because I felt like 'Oh I just don't know enough to form an opinion' or 'I'm not that culturally informed.' But it doesn’t have to end there. Get educated," Ganados stressed.
While she expressed her "deep sorrow" for the Israelis who have lost their lives and have been injured in the terrorist attacks, Ganados emphasized that retribution will not resolve anything.
"Hamas killing civilians was horrible, but Israel countering by killing 10 times more civilians is beyond insane. I cannot remain silent in the face of the Israeli government's attempt to seek revenge from innocent civilians for the terrorist attack," she wrote.
"I will not remain silent about this genocide either especially that my family’s life depends on it," she continued, mentioning how many children have lost their lives in the war.
"How can so many be so silent? What are you scared of? Scared to defend basic human rights as innocent people are murdered. It’s been a long dark tunnel since Oct. 7 and a long way to go to immerge from this horendous situation," Ganados wrote.
The pageant titleholder accompanied her post with conversations she had with her brother and stepmother, which included distressing statements such as "I don't know if we will live or die in the end, I want to tell you that I love you" and "We feel very afraid, my tears have dried up from crying."
Many of Ganados' fellow beauty queens took the time to send words of strength and support towards her.
"Unimaginable horror and violence. Praying for you family, Gaz," Pia Wurtzbach commented.
"This is sickening. Praying for the victims of this war especially the helpless women and children. Praying for you and your loved ones too, Gaz," wrote Miss Universe Philippines 2021 Beatrice Luigi Gomez.
Binibining Pilipinas International 2022 Nicole Borromeo also sent her some words of encouragement, commenting, "You and your family are in my prayers. I’m so sorry, Gaz."
The war started when the Islamist group from Gaza launched an attack because of the conflict between Israel and Palestine. which stems back to the late 19th and early 20th century over the sovereignty of their territories.