The scribbled note on a Manchester shop that reveals the scale of death and suffering in Gaza

Last month, a photo of a heart-breaking note detailing the reason why a takeaway in south Manchester was closed went viral. Crudely sellotaped on the shutters and written in black felt tip, the message read “Business close [sic] due to martyred [sic] of my family by Israeli strike on my home in Gaza city.

“My mum, my brother, my sister-in-law (pregnant) and my little niece (12-years-old).”

It was a visceral reminder of the shocking realities the civilian population in Gaza are living through and the immense heartache their loved ones must endure while trying to live normal lives.

The author of the note was Dalloul al-Neder, 33, a man who has spoken extensively about the unfathomable pain of losing one family member after another to the conflict in the Middle East.

At the time of writing the message to his customers, Dalloul was mourning his mum, brother, pregnant sister-in-law and two nieces. However, Israel’s operation in Gaza has continued, and, devastatingly, Dalloul says he has lost two more loved ones since - while the rest are suffering from famine and battling disease.

“My sister-in-law and my niece, her child, have been killed.” He told the M.E.N “I’m beyond words, I can’t describe it anymore, I’m devastated.

“20 days ago now, they bombed the shelter where my family was staying and trying to survive. That means seven have died from the 30 members of my family.

“The rest are injured or suffering from a liver virus that is now a big problem in Gaza. It is really horrible, there’s really no words to describe the situation in Gaza.”

The death toll in Gaza is around 35,000, with children accounting for more than a third, according to health authorities there. Aid agencies are concerned about the scale of civilian