“I’m the girl whose father doesn’t know her.” That’s how Shatha introduced herself to a lawyer at the Palestinian Maintenance Fund when asked her name — as if she meant to rebuke the father who fled from the responsibilities of his family. She was born shortly before her father unexpectedly divorced her mother and abandoned the family, choosing instead to remarry and live in Gaza. “In 2006, after I reached the West Bank through Egypt while I was six months pregnant with Shatha, I was shocked to receive the divorce papers,” says Um Luay, who now lives in a rented house near her family in Hebron. “He had promised to follow us, but instead he sent a divorce notice.” He left me with a daughter who has never seen his face, and two sons who were under the age of three. His family then forced me to give up my legal rights — the deferred dowry and any financial claims — in exchange for custody of my children. “They’re my weak spot,” she says. Before that, my ex-husband had already taken my gold jewelry for himself. More than once, I thought about sending the children to Gaza to live with their father. But I couldn’t go through with it. He’s remarried, and “I would die if my kids were taken away from me.” Life wouldn’t be easy for them there. Still, the hardship and economic pressure I face constantly bring the idea back into my mind. “At least I have my siblings — they support me, even with just kind words. One day my children will grow up, get an education, and make something of their lives.” She lives on the small monthly stipend she receives from the Maintenance Fund and social welfare support that comes every four months. “But the burdens keep growing... May God ease our struggles,” she concludes.

Tahani and Her Daughters... Under Threat After her husband sold their home and all the furniture, Tahani, a 33-year-old mother of three girls aged between 5 and 13, had no choice but to return to her father’s house in southern Hebron. Her husband had decided early on to abandon his responsibilities toward his family, leaving them without even the basic necessities for a decent life. What made the situation even more terrifying were the threats from creditors — some even went as far as threatening to kidnap her daughters if her husband failed to repay his debts. Tahani has made many attempts, and continues to try, to convince her husband to fulfill his duties as a father and provider — but to no avail. Her family remains vulnerable, constantly under threat, and burdened by financial desperation. The alternative — divorce — carries a heavy social stigma that Tahani feels unprepared to face or endure. Despite the support she receives from the Palestinian Maintenance Fund, their needs far exceed the available assistance. With the fund's limited resources, this struggling family finds itself appealing to kind-hearted people for help.

“My official age is 47, but my real age is 42. May God forgive him — my father forged my birth certificate to marry me off to a man 18 years older than me when I was only 13,” says Itaf, a mother of ten daughters, five sons, and the caregiver of two of her grandchildren. “I haven’t seen him in over nine years. As long as he stays away from me, I’m at peace. May God never forgive him — the abuse I suffered was terrifying,” she says, describing her husband’s absence and the torment he inflicted before abandoning the family. He used to marry off his daughters just to get money, and if he didn’t get what he wanted, he would force them into divorce. The groom’s character, education, number of wives, or age gap didn’t matter — all that mattered to him was the money, Itaf explains. Today, Itaf, her children, and grandchildren live in a place that resembles anything but a home — barely furnished, infested with mold and decay that causes illness among the children. Even the bare minimum of shelter was denied to her by her husband's family, who have set fire to the house and broken its windows on more than one occasion. Her husband chose to escape all responsibility and live in Jordan, leaving behind a trail of suffering for a destitute family that struggles to meet even the most basic needs. Their only source of income is the modest support they receive from the Palestinian Maintenance Fund — and it is far from enough. The family is large, and their suffering immense — hunger, illness, and even the absence of basic health insurance define their daily reality.