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Mami, why are our neighbors all wrapped in white bandages? Why are their white bandages turning red? Mami, who took my arm from me? I want it back. If you find it, can you put it in the refrigerator so we can stitch it back on?

Oh Mami, why does dear Amin only have one leg? And why does my lovely brother only have one eye? Who stole his leg and his eye? Please, Mami, do not cry. Although, Amin wants all the tears so he can wash his pain.

Mami, where did the music go? Why is all I hear just loud drumming? Why do I not hear a violin or a piano anymore?

Oh Mami, do not cry. I know you are so brave. I know you will save my other arm.

Mami, please tell Abi to smile. Every time someone comes to evict him from his house, we go with him. We are a family. They will not separate us, even if they take our home. We will all get on his Arabian horse and get oranges from Yafa and some baklava. Abi knows how much I love sweet things. My poor sister Amal can no longer share sweets or eat oranges. Her mouth is gone.

Oh Mami, the children here really do not look like other children anymore. Please tell other mums about us children and also ask why we no longer hear the adhan for prayer. And where did Umm Kulthum’s lovely voice go? It used to cheer us up.

Mami, something is very wrong. I am not feeling well, but I do not know what happened. Some bad people stole my arm, they stole eyes and they stole legs. Perhaps they do not realize that what they take from our bodies. Others fill the space with love, and they sing about our bravery.

Oh Mami, I am just a child, but I know pain and I know the selfishness of others.

Mami, can you call the boy I used to always see? His name is Levi. We had such fun playing together. Can we have those neighbors again, the ones who prayed differently but were still just like us? Can we get closer to those neighbors again?

Oh Mami, please do not give up. Your child knows what is going on. I might feel pain, but I do not want to add any more pain to yours and to Abi’s. We will be okay. We will show the bad people who run in a pool of evil, that there is nothing more powerful than a smile, than walking together as a family. That is what I always loved.

Mami, I am ready to live and to grow up. We will find a path to make peace in this land that God gave to all believers in the world. I believe in you Mami, you are the best of all mothers. Will you help me spread the word?

I want to be led by you Mami, and by Abi, all of us together, holding hands with Christians, Jews, Muslims and others, to plant the olive tree of peace.

• Hassan bin Youssef Yassin worked with Saudi petroleum ministers Abdullah Tariki and Ahmed Zaki Yamani from 1959 to 1967. He led the Saudi Information Office in Washington from 1972 to 1981 and served with the Arab League observer delegation to the UN from 1981 to 1983.