Gaza’s Devastated North: A Journey of Heartbreak and Destruction
Khamis and Ahmad Imarah, two brothers from Gaza, returned to their home in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, only to find utter devastation. Their father and brother are still buried under the debris, more than a year after their home was struck by Israeli forces.
The brothers walked 11 kilometers to reach their home, a treacherous journey they made with several small children. They found their home almost completely gone, with just one room still partially standing. Rummaging through the rubble, Khamis came across his mother’s green knitting bag, with a couple of balls of yarn and two crochet hooks still inside.
The situation in the north is dire, with most of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed or damaged. According to the UN, some 69% of all structures in the strip have been destroyed or damaged in the past 15 months, with Gaza City the worst hit. The Israeli military strikes have turned most of Gaza to rubble, leaving many without access to basic necessities like water, electricity, and food.
The Imarah brothers’ journey is a testament to the devastating impact of the war on Gaza’s residents. They lost 49 members of their extended family, with only 11 surviving. Their daughter spent 45 days in the intensive care unit, and their younger son is still traumatized by seeing his mother being killed.
Despite the destruction and heartbreak, Khamis and Ahmad are determined to stay and rebuild. “I am from Gaza and I won’t leave. Even if it was harder and more difficult than this, I want to live in Gaza and I won’t leave it. I will only leave Gaza to go to Heaven,” Khamis said.
The situation in Gaza is precarious, with many displaced Palestinians struggling to access basic necessities. The UN has reported that some 500,000 displaced Palestinians have made the journey to the decimated north in the first 72 hours after Israeli forces opened the Netzarim corridor. The journey is long and difficult, with roads destroyed and mud and piles of rubble obstructing the way.
The US President’s recent suggestion to “clean out” Gaza by removing Palestinians living there to Jordan and Egypt has sparked outrage and rebuke across the Middle East. Khamis and Ahmad’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of staying in Gaza, not just for personal reasons, but for the sake of their ancestors and the land they call home.
