In the heart of Jabaliya, northern Gaza, Hani al-Dibs and his children stand amidst the devastation that was once their home. The family of 14 fled in haste, leaving behind everything they owned, as Israeli airstrikes pounded the neighborhood. Today, all that remains is rubble, a grim reminder of the chaos that unfolded just days ago.
Al-Dibs’ eyes scan the wreckage, his mind racing with memories of the home he built with his own hands. The walls, now reduced to piles of concrete and twisted metal, once echoed with laughter and the chatter of his children. Now, an eerie silence hangs heavy in the air, broken only by the distant sound of more explosions.
The family took shelter in a nearby UN school, one of many makeshift shelters housing thousands of Gaza’s displaced. Conditions are cramped and basic, but for now, it offers a semblance of safety. Al-Dibs’ youngest daughter clings to him, her eyes wide with fear. She misses her room, her toys, her life before the war.
Al-Dibs is among the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been forced from their homes in recent weeks. The United Nations estimates that at least 100,000 people are seeking refuge in UN-run schools and shelters across the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian crisis deepens with each passing day, as food and water supplies dwindle and hospitals struggle to cope with the influx of wounded.
The international community watches in horror as the conflict escalates. Calls for a ceasefire grow louder, but on the ground, the fighting shows no signs of abating. Al-Dibs and his family, like so many others, are caught in the crossfire, their lives put on hold until the guns fall silent.
As the sun sets over Jabaliya, casting long shadows across the ruins of what was once a thriving community, al-Dibs looks out at the destruction. He holds onto hope that one day, he will return to rebuild his home, his life, and his dreams for his children. But for now, all they have is each other, and the uncertain wait for peace.