Returning Home to Northern Gaza, Palestinians Confront Devastation and Loss
Amid widespread destruction, displaced Palestinians struggle to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
As Israeli military strikes continue to devastate Gaza, many Palestinians returning to northern Gaza are finding nothing but rubble and loss.
Khamis and Ahmad Imarah, whose father and brother remain buried under debris from a strike over a year ago, have returned to their home in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood.
They found their home almost entirely destroyed, with only one room left partially standing.
Despite the overwhelming destruction, the Imarah brothers are focused on finding their missing family members.
Their mother, who was injured in an Israeli strike, was one of the few Palestinians evacuated for medical treatment before the Rafah crossing was closed in May 2024. The situation in northern Gaza is dire, with the United Nations reporting that 69% of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the past 15 months.
Roads are blocked, and many have been forced to walk long distances back to the north, where basic necessities like food, water, and shelter are scarce.
The destruction has left displaced residents without homes, and some have turned back to southern Gaza after finding the area uninhabitable.
With no space for camps and little available infrastructure, humanitarian efforts are urgently needed.
Meanwhile, the Imarah family has experienced significant losses, with only 11 of 60 family members surviving the war.
The brothers are determined to rebuild and stay in Gaza, despite the overwhelming hardships.
Their resolve to remain in their ancestral home reflects a deep connection to the land, despite the ongoing violence and loss.
Khamis and Ahmad Imarah, whose father and brother remain buried under debris from a strike over a year ago, have returned to their home in the Al-Shujaiya neighborhood.
They found their home almost entirely destroyed, with only one room left partially standing.
Despite the overwhelming destruction, the Imarah brothers are focused on finding their missing family members.
Their mother, who was injured in an Israeli strike, was one of the few Palestinians evacuated for medical treatment before the Rafah crossing was closed in May 2024. The situation in northern Gaza is dire, with the United Nations reporting that 69% of structures in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed in the past 15 months.
Roads are blocked, and many have been forced to walk long distances back to the north, where basic necessities like food, water, and shelter are scarce.
The destruction has left displaced residents without homes, and some have turned back to southern Gaza after finding the area uninhabitable.
With no space for camps and little available infrastructure, humanitarian efforts are urgently needed.
Meanwhile, the Imarah family has experienced significant losses, with only 11 of 60 family members surviving the war.
The brothers are determined to rebuild and stay in Gaza, despite the overwhelming hardships.
Their resolve to remain in their ancestral home reflects a deep connection to the land, despite the ongoing violence and loss.
