Gaza Exiles Abroad Face Loss, Await Reconstruction for Return
Translated & summarized from Panet by baba
Tens of thousands of Palestinians, including Omar Al-Hassaina who lost most of his family, have been displaced from Gaza since the October 7th Hamas attack and remain abroad due to the ongoing conflict and lack of reconstruction. They face hardship and long to return to a stable Gaza, but significant Israeli control and ongoing strikes hinder any immediate prospects for rebuilding.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Over 100,000 Palestinians displaced from Gaza since Oct 7 cannot return.
- Displaced Gazans face loss, exile, and await reconstruction for return.
- Israeli forces control over 60% of Gaza, conducting daily strikes.
- Reconstruction prospects remain distant amid ongoing conflict.
- Omar Al-Hassaina's family lost 308 members in an Israeli attack.
Omar Al-Hassaina, a 65-year-old Palestinian, was forced to flee Gaza for Cairo, Egypt, after an Israeli airstrike killed most of his family. Three years later, he remains in Egypt, hoping for security, stability, and reconstruction in Gaza to enable his return. According to Palestinian Authority data, Al-Hassaina is among over 100,000 Palestinians who left Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and cannot yet return. Their suffering includes displacement, the loss of relatives in the war, and longing for their destroyed homes and neighborhoods. "I left Gaza and came to Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, but this will not be forgotten," Al-Hassaina stated, expressing his anticipation for a stable Gaza to return to.
Despite a ceasefire agreement approximately a year ago that was intended to pave the way for reconstruction under a technocratic government and a political process leading to Israeli withdrawal, little has changed on the ground. Israeli forces still control over 60 percent of Gaza and conduct near-daily airstrikes. Hamas retains control over most populated areas, where residents live in temporary shelters and rely on aid that relief agencies deem insufficient. There are no immediate signs of reconstruction starting.
Palestinian authorities reported that approximately 308 members of Al-Hassaina's family were killed when Israeli attacks destroyed residential buildings where they were sheltering in Gaza City on November 22, 2023. Among the deceased were his wife, four children, and four grandchildren, including an infant just a few months old.
