As Time magazine releases its inaugural “Girls of the Year 2025” list—celebrating ten young female leaders across the globe—no name from the thousands of girls killed in Gaza appears. This omission is especially jarring given that over 9,000 Palestinian girls have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict.
Silence Amid Tragedy
Time’s new “Girls of the Year” feature spotlights young women aged 12 to 17—authors, athletes, innovators, advocates—who are making significant impacts in their communities. Honorees include Rutendo Shadaya, a 17-year-old author in New Zealand; Coco Yoshizawa, a Japanese Olympic gold-medalist; Rebecca Young, a 12-year-old UK innovator addressing homelessness; and others spanning France, Mexico, China, Germany, Poland, Turkey, and the U.S..
Despite the breadth of representation, not a single girl from Gaza—amid a conflict that has claimed the lives of at least 9,000 Palestinian girls and left over 15,000 more injured or maimed—is named.
A Viral Cry Goes Unanswered
This omission comes even as deeply moving scenes—like a video of a little Palestinian girl bringing food to her family moments before a bombing—have gone viral across social media platforms. Yet, sources of inspiration recognized by Time are all from geographically distant contexts, highlighting a stark and painful disconnect.
Numbers That Should Resonate
Humanitarian data underscores the severity: at least 9,000 Palestinian girls killed and over 15,000 injured or physically maimed amid the Gaza bombardments. These figures are more than statistics—they reflect lives, dreams, lost childhoods. Time’s absence of acknowledgment underscores a conscious overlooking of Gaza’s human suffering.
What This Omission Reveals
This absence from Time’s list isn’t just an editorial decision—it’s a reflection of broader neglect. While the magazine—and its partner LEGO, through the “She Built That” campaign—aims to bolster visibility for girls as builders and change-makers, the resiliency and tragedy of Gaza’s youngest victims remain invisible. The failure to include any of them highlights how selective narratives can silence those who carry the heaviest burdens.
Conclusion:
Time’s “Girls of the Year 2025” highlights remarkable young women—but in doing so, it also highlights its own blind spots. In a moment when thousands of girls are desperately needing recognition—not for their achievements, but for the very fact of their lives lost—their silence speaks volumes.
From: iribnews