Abu al-Abed al-Hourani clutched his grandchildren tightly, refusing to look back, as the distant rumble of explosions echoed through the night.
In May, he had fled Rafah with his extended family ahead of Israel’s military offensive on the enclave’s southernmost city, leaving behind the two four-story buildings they had called home.
“We had no time to think,” he said. “We left with nothing but the clothes on our backs, praying we would survive.”
Abu al-Abed and his family, along with nearly 945,000 others, were displaced from Rafah following Israel’s ground invasion.
Israel’s genocide, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has left Gaza reeling. Israeli airstrikes devastated homes and buildings, driving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to evacuate their neighbourhoods.
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans were left with a choice: either stay in their homes and face the threat of death or injury, or leave behind everything, furniture, memories, and community, to seek safety elsewhere.
Areas designated as safe zones for the displaced lacked basic necessities, with the majority forced to flee under duress, often unable to take even their most essential belongings.
The family sought refuge in Khan Younis, in a barren stretch of land near the shoreline known as al-Mawasi. For four days, they lived under the open sky without food or water, believing the attack on Rafah would be limited. But as time wore on, grim news reached them: the offensive had expanded, engulfing the entire area in destruction.
Weeks turned into months, hope dimmed, and the family began to reconcile with the possibility that they might never return home.
Following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that took effect in January, and as the dust settles over Gaza, the toll of the conflict is stark.
Approximately 47,035 Palestinians have been killed, and over 111,091 injured, including many women and children. Additionally, nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced, and widespread destruction has left an estimated 60 percent of structures, including hospitals and schools, damaged or destroyed.
Despite the devastation, many families are eager to return to what remains of their homes. As Israeli forces withdrew, displaced families began making their way back to assess the damage.
For Abu al-Abed, the journey home was filled with both anticipation and dread.
“When I saw the remains of our home for the first time,” he said, his voice breaking, “I couldn’t recognise it. It couldn’t recognise me. It was as if a massive earthquake had struck, obliterating everything.”
The scars of displacement, both physical and emotional, remain raw. Families face the monumental task of rebuilding not just homes, but their entire lives.
“Streets that once bustled with life now lay in ruins, neighbourhoods reduced to unrecognisable rubble,” Abu al-Abed told The New Arab. “But even if it’s rubble, it’s still our home. We’ll pitch our tent beside it.”
A disaster zone
Ahmed Al-Soufi, the mayor of Rafah and head of the city’s emergency committee, confirmed to The New Arab that Rafah had been declared “a disaster zone” and that its reconstruction was beyond the capabilities of both the local authorities and the community.
“The city’s desperate condition demands massive collective efforts to provide the bare minimum for survival for the people returning,” he said.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the municipality and emergency committee, he called for urgent international intervention to address the staggering aftermath of Israeli military operations.
“Over 90 percent of residential neighbourhoods in several parts of Rafah have been wiped out, 30 municipal facilities destroyed, and nine medical centres, including four main hospitals, rendered inoperable,” he stated.
The Israeli military also intentionally targeted over 15 water wells, crippling access to clean water, alongside obliterating infrastructure such as electricity grids, roads, and public buildings, according to Ahmed.
“Rafah faces a humanitarian catastrophe,” he warned. “We urgently appeal to the international community and relief organisations to provide shelter, food, clean water, and medical services for the displaced. A comprehensive emergency plan for reconstruction and infrastructure repair is critical.”
Despite limited resources, the municipality has managed to partially reopen seven major roads, spanning nearly 12 kilometres, to facilitate the return of residents to what remains of their neighbourhoods.
Emad Youssef, a youth activist engaged in relief efforts, underscored the necessity of coordinated local and international responses.
“The current tragedy demands immediate humanitarian aid to help the city recover and return to normal life,” he said.
Emad also stressed the importance of basic services, such as water, electricity, and sanitation, as well as the urgent establishment of temporary shelters to alleviate the suffering of displaced families.
“These shelters are essential,” Emad told The New Arab. “The worn-out tents currently housing people offer no protection from the harsh winter cold or the blazing summer heat. Replacing them with sturdy, liveable structures is crucial to alleviating suffering.”
For now, Rafah remains a city caught between despair and determination, its residents united by resilience yet desperate for the resources to rebuild.
“The psychological toll of this war is immense,” Emad added. “People have not only lost their homes but also their sense of security. Efforts by individuals alone aren’t enough. The problems are far too great. This is a crisis that demands cooperation at every level, from governments to humanitarian organisations, to ensure fair distribution of aid and restoration of dignity to those affected.”
He stressed that substantial, large-scale humanitarian aid would not only address immediate needs but also play a pivotal role in overcoming the crisis.
“Massive and rapid aid will open doors of hope for those affected, who are desperate to rebuild their lives after months of unimaginable hardship,” he added.
With reports indicating that reconstruction efforts are set to begin soon, Emad expressed cautious optimism that international support could help restore a semblance of normalcy to Gaza’s battered population.
For the tens of thousands displaced by war, these efforts represent not just relief, but a tangible step toward reclaiming dignity and stability after prolonged devastation.
Moataz al-Halaq and Youssef Yehia Abu Hashish are freelance writers from Gaza
This article is published in collaboration with Egab
