Gaza's Return: From Displacement to Ruins

Residents of Rafah return only to confront the devastation left behind, highlighting the intense human toll of the conflict.

Minutes after the ceasefire in Gaza was declared on Sunday, Islam Dahliz embarked on a poignant journey alongside his father and brother, anxious to return to their neighborhood that Israeli forces had previously forced them to evacuate. Yet what they discovered left them disoriented; the area was unrecognizable amidst piles of concrete rubble and destruction.

After a few moments, Mr. Dahliz's eyes caught sight of a familiar remnant—the local wedding hall, a prominent landmark. This haunting image made them realize their home had been behind them all along, buried beneath the debris.

“It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” recounted the 34-year-old, who dedicates his efforts to local aid organizations. The family stood in disbelief as they processed the devastation surrounding them.

Abed Dahliz, aged 74, struggled with the shock of the moment. His sons supported him back toward their temporary tent as he recalled with a trembling voice the life he had built over decades. “Seeing my entire life flattened to the ground was heart-wrenching,” he lamented, reflecting on years spent investing his savings into the family dwelling.

This harsh reality was far removed from the hopeful return they had envisioned while displaced, moving from tent to tent, each time longing to resume their lives in their cherished neighborhood. As they stood before the remnants of what was once their home, a deep sense of loss settled within them, a reminder of the fragility of peace in a region marred by conflict.