According to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, almost 24,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict to date.

Jewellery maker Kerry McCullough (32) said that since the violence broke out on October 7 she had been “unable to create anything” but has now designed a pair of heart-shaped earrings adorned with the Palestinian flag.

The profits of each pair of earrings sold will be donated entirely to Medical Aid for Palestine, a charity that work out of Egypt and through the border distributing aid.

Kerry said that it took her a while to break through her “creative block” but used her time “being active in other ways until I was able to create the right design.”

“The flag in the heart shape is a simple message — our heart is with the people of Palestine,” said Kerry.

“It’s also proudly showing support with the flag because in 1967 Israel banned anyone from displaying the flag, and in 1980 a law banned artwork containing the four colours of the flag.”

The Wee Jewellery Co was created by Kerry originally as an “ode to Belfast” in 2017 after finding her passion for experimenting with laser cutting.

Despite initial success, the Covid-19 pandemic and added costs of materials led Kerry to put her business on hold after “losing her passion”.

Watch: Belfast artist creates jewellery to aid medical aid in Palestine

“I started again during 2023 with the plan in mind that the earrings would focus more on a bold pop art style, creating statement earrings that are playful, evoking nostalgia and also satire,” she told this newspaper, adding that inspiration for her designs comes from a variety of things.

“The likes of Andy Warhol and pop artists who are influenced by consumerism has always been interesting to me,” she explained.

“Anything controversial gets my attention and I also love the work of Doodad and Fandango, an Australian company who make really cool “in your face” earrings.

“That style is a big influence in how I produce my most recent designs,” she added.

“My work before lockdown was fun but I think now it has more of an edge; I always come back to pop art and vibrant colour when I’m creating new work so there is a theme there.

“Art is one of the best forms of activism and I have a platform so I think it’s my duty to use it when I can.”

Kerry said that the thought of women and children receiving no medical aid is something that has “deeply affected her” and inspired her to create and sell her earrings to help fundraise.

“The atrocities committed are horrific I can’t understand anyone that isn’t affected,” she said.

“It has given me nightmares from the beginning and that’s just from what I’m seeing on a phone, imagine living it.

“A lot of aid is blocked by Israel, but they are doing what they can to help the Palestinian Red Crescent health workers with medical supplies which they are in dire need of,” she added.

“C-sections and amputations, for example, have been performed routinely without anaesthetic.

“At this point, almost 30,000 people have been killed, 10,000 of those are children and thousands still trapped under the rubble.”

Kerry said that, previously, she would never have considered herself an activist, but the current situation in Gaza has said that it is now something important she feels she needs to highlight in her artwork and creations.

“I would never have called myself an activist in the past, but I always have had that fire burning about social injustices, rooting for the underdog and having compassion for people,” she said.

Last year, Kerry released a similar pair of earrings in the shape of a fist raised in the colours of the Iranian flag.

“The earrings for the Women of Iran came about after young girl Mahsa Amini, was arrested and killed in police custody for not covering her hair,” she explained.

“I was asked to custom make these for a friend, but I also wanted to raise awareness and funds for the women’s aid there.

“I don’t think people need to be educated in politics, or the history of a certain country to support a cause; just look at it as a human being with empathy and do your part whether it’s signing a petition, posting on social media or attending a protest,” she added.

“I remember seeing a quote a while back, ‘But I’m only one person’, and it really struck me; but if just one person does something, it could influence another, and another until that domino effect can see action, we can’t just sit back and let the violence continue, we could do our part to help no matter how small.”

To keep up with Kerry’s latest creations you can follow @theweejewelleryco handle on Instagram.