I rode away on a camel with my grandmother, along a sandy road, and I started to cry. Ayish Younis describes the fraught moment of his life at age 12 amidst the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, as he and his family fled their home.
Ayish recalls a time filled with fear for their lives, as they had no means to defend themselves against the threatening forces. This event would forever shape his perception of peace and stability.
Twelve years later, in what was once British-ruled Palestine, Ayish finds himself once more in dire circumstances. Now 89 years old, he lives in a small tent next to relatives in Al-Mawasi, Gaza following the destruction of his home during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
His story encapsulates not only his personal narrative of loss and displacement but that of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who became refugees after the initial conflict, living through waves of violence and war anew. In a poignant reflection, Ayish expresses skepticism about the prospect of rebuilding Gaza, stating, I don’t believe Gaza has any future. He alludes to the significant loss of infrastructure and public services, leaving future generations in uncertainty.
The war has stolen not just homes but facilitated a profound psychological trauma. Ayish laments the disruption in education experienced by his grandchildren and the impact on the younger generation's ability to contribute to potential rebuilding efforts.
Despite the challenges, there remains a shred of hope amongst Ayish's family members, one that reflects a desire for stability, and the optimism that future generations may seize opportunities unheard of in current circumstances. As they navigate uncertainty, the dreams of returning to Barbara and tasting the fruit of home echoes through Ayish's conversations, underscoring the deep connection to a lost homeland.
In Ayish's words, echoes a larger truth about the struggle for identity and stability among Palestinians in Gaza, facing an uncertain future yet holding onto the threads of hope, family, and memory.
