But she saw this as an environment to send a message to President William Ruto: Palestine, her home, needs his voice to bring peace. Mariam was born and raised in Gaza City in the Gaza Strip. Speaking with tears streaming down her cheeks, she pleaded with President Ruto to speak to other world leaders and help save 2.3 million Palestinians from being decimated. President Ruto initially expressed solidarity with Israel and condemned the Hamas attack. Israel has been accused of genocide, and the issue is now before the International Court of Justice after South Africa took it to court over the Gaza war.
