Reported by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dawoud Abu Alkas, and Ramadan Abed
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) – Many exhausted Palestinians in Gaza are returning to their homes, devastated by the war, on the third day of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. They are shocked by the complete destruction they find.
The ceasefire began on Sunday after 15 months of conflict, marked by Hamas releasing three hostages and Israel releasing 90 Palestinian prisoners. Now, the focus is shifting towards rebuilding the coastal enclave that has been decimated by the Israeli military’s campaign to eradicate Hamas following an attack by the militant group on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Some Gazans struggle to recognize their former homes, opting to return to the tents where they sought shelter for the past few months. Others start clearing debris in hopes of moving back into the ruins of their houses.
“We are cleaning the house and removing the rubble to be able to return home. Everything was destroyed,” said Walaa El-Err, a Palestinian woman in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza. She described the feeling of returning as “indescribable” and expressed disappointment at the state of her neighborhood.
In Gaza City, Abla, a mother of three, cautiously waited to ensure the ceasefire held before visiting her devastated home in the Tel Al-Hawa suburb, which had been flattened by Israeli attacks. The scene was described as “horrific,” with buildings reduced to rubble.
As residents set up tents next to their destroyed homes, concerns arise about the extensive cleanup and reconstruction efforts needed. A U.N. assessment estimates that clearing the vast amount of rubble left behind by the bombardments could take up to 21 years and cost $1.2 billion. Additionally, there are fears of asbestos contamination in the debris, further complicating the recovery process.
Tragically, Gaza health authorities report a death toll of at least 47,000 people, with many more potentially buried under the rubble. The conflict has set back Gaza’s development by seven decades, according to a United Nations Development Programme report.
Rescue workers in Gaza continue to search for bodies buried under the debris, recovering at least 150 bodies since the ceasefire began. The images coming out of Gaza are heart-wrenching, depicting the immense devastation and loss suffered by its residents.
In the aftermath of conflict in Gaza, families continue to search for the graves of their loved ones amidst the devastation. In the somber setting of Shejaia cemetery, a site previously marred by the heavy machinery of war, men painstakingly dig through the earth in a desperate quest for closure.
Atef Jundiya’s voice trembles with emotion as he recounts his fruitless search for the resting places of his father, brother, and sister-in-law. “I have been searching and looking for my father’s grave, my brother’s grave, and my brother’s wife’s grave, and I can’t find them,” he laments, his words echoing the collective anguish of many in Gaza City.
Despite the fragile peace brought by the ceasefire, the pain of uncertainty lingers for these families. “I mean, we have been relieved by the ceasefire, but at the same time, we are still searching for our martyrs and searching for our graves and can’t find them,” Jundiya shares with Reuters, a poignant reminder of the wounds that transcend physical destruction.
The civil emergency service grapples with the monumental task of locating and extracting an estimated 10,000 bodies buried beneath the rubble. The urgent call for heavy machinery and earth-moving vehicles underscores the magnitude of the humanitarian effort underway in Gaza. Officials brace themselves for a protracted extraction process that may stretch over several months, a testament to the enduring impact of conflict on the lives of those caught in its wake.
As the world’s attention shifts, these stories of loss and longing serve as a stark reminder of the human toll of war. The resilience of the Palestinian people shines through in their unwavering determination to honor the memory of their fallen, even amidst the rubble of destruction.
In the hallowed grounds of Shejaia cemetery, the earth bears witness to the pain and perseverance of those who refuse to let their loved ones be forgotten. Each shovel of dirt unearths not just remains, but fragments of shattered lives and unfulfilled dreams. Amidst the chaos of conflict, these acts of remembrance become acts of defiance, pushing back against the tide of violence with a simple yet profound gesture of love.
As the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, the echoes of grief reverberate through the cemetery, a haunting melody of loss and longing. Yet, in the midst of this sorrow, there is also a glimmer of hope—a hope born from the resilience of the human spirit, from the enduring bonds of family and community that refuse to be broken by the ravages of war.
In Gaza, amidst the ruins of war, the search for closure continues. And in that search, a testament to the enduring power of love and memory emerges—a beacon of light in the darkness, guiding families through their darkest hour towards a future where peace and remembrance can coexist.
(Writing by [Your Name], Reporting inspired by the brave voices of those seeking solace amidst the rubble of conflict)
