In Gaza, death seems easier than the endless suffering of the trip. Death ends pain; The trip only aggravates the situation, opening an injury that never heals.
In Gaza City, people face two bitter choices: stay and may be killed or imprisoned, or flee south to an impossible life in a camp. The displacement is not just a relocation – it is a slow death. He embarks on a trip without knowing if there will be shelter, food or water at the end. This means exhaustion, roaming and fear. Even reaching a refuge offers no real security because death can always follow you there.
Since the start of the war, my family and I have been moved 15 times. Each time was more difficult than that before. Each time, we have lost our goods, our health, our feeling of security.
It all started in October 2023. We fled our house in the Tal al-Hawa district, which was then bombed in November, and wanted a shelter at the neighboring Al-Bahrain school. We stayed there until mid-November. From there, we went to my uncle in Tal al-Hawa, then to my aunt’s house in the Zeitoun region. We then went to another uncle in Tal al-Hawa; When this area has become too dangerous, we moved two streets to another parent’s house. From there, we moved to our neighbors then in the basement. When a missile landed near us without exploding, we fled again at the Al-Bahrain school. From there, we moved to my cousin in the Daraj region, but then it became dangerous, so we moved to the port area. We returned to my cousin, then finally to my grandfather in the Daraj region. The situation has become dangerous again, so we went to the port for a while, then back to my grandfather.
We stayed there for a while when the famine was deepening. Famine deeply affected me. Whenever I saw food, it seemed to shrink before my eyes. I was afraid of eating a lot and I was crying while eating because I was afraid that one of us could starve. I lost 10 kg (22 lb) and I became very weak. I was diagnosed with deficiencies of anemia and vitamins.
In July, we decided to sell the tent we used during the trip for $ 140. We bought flour with money.
When Israel said he was going to attack Gaza City again, we fell into total despair. For my family – like many others – moving was impossible. We had no money for transportation, no parents in the south and no tent.
The tents have now become rare and scandalously expensive – you can cost up to $ 1,000. Even if you have a tent, finding a place to throw is a challenge. Even what was once a bare land now costs $ 30 per square meter (11 square feet) per month.
So we decided to stay while others run south.
Then on September 7, our house was bombed. Our neighbors received a telephone call from the Israelis that the mosque next to our building would be bombed; We were given seven minutes to evacuate the area.
I grabbed clothes and an office lamp – a gift from a dear friend – put them in a bag and ran out with my brothers and sisters. Seven minutes have passed and nothing happened. My father returned to the building to collect a few other things and came out. He then returned with my brothers and sisters to take some other things. He returned a third time to eliminate food. We cried out: “Why was he returned?” Why was he returned? ” I broke down, crying and shouting: “My father!”
A few moments later, my father emerged, hugging the bag of flour. Yes, this is what a father is – the one who risks his life to get bread for his family.
We thought we were all safe, but we were not. Instead of bombing the mosque, the Israelis hit my grandfather’s house. He was too close to the building and was martyred.
We are now again homeless and mourning the loss of a loved one.
We were forced to go to my aunt in an area that also received evacuation orders and was threatened by the Israelis with bombing. We stay there even if it is dangerous because we have nowhere to go.
Israel claims that the South is safe, but it is false. Every two days we hear a story of Israeli drones bombing the Al-Mawasi camps. Barely a week ago, Israel bombed a tent belonging to a family only three hours after their arrival from Northern Gaza; Three family members were martyred.
We fear what Israel has planned to us. We have read the reports on the concentration camps established in the south, resembling those set up by the Nazis. Rumors have spread according to which people’s names will be replaced by figures; The phones will be confiscated so that there is no documentation; Food will be rationed.
The trip stole not only our houses and our memories, but our very souls. Our faces are pale hunger, sorrow and fear.
I was once a merchant of hope, but now I pray even for a single word. I endured famine, thirst, missiles and unbearable losses. I may not survive my 15th trip.
Publisher’s note: The article has been updated to correct an error on the site bombed by the Israeli army.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Tel Aviv Tribune.
