RAFAH, (PIC)
The city of Rafah, located in the far south of the Gaza Strip, is experiencing a daily tragedy. Since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19, the hope of returning to their homes seems to have evaporated for many residents of the city.
Despite the signing of the ceasefire agreement, Palestinians in Rafah continue to face real threats to their lives due to ongoing fire from Israeli drones and tanks that relentlessly target civilians.
Return under the threat of death
Citizens displaced from their homes due to intense Israeli bombardment dream of returning to their destroyed houses, but this dream collides with a bitter reality as the continuous fire from drones and Israeli military vehicles prevents these hopes from being realized. Many have spoken about their fears of being killed if they decide to return.
Ahmed Said, 42, displaced in the Mawasi Khan Yunis area, is one of those citizens facing real danger if he tries to go back. Said, who supports a family of five, says, “I want to return to my destroyed home in the Saudi neighborhood south of Rafah, but the area is close to what is called the Philadelphi Route, and it is subjected to continuous gunfire. One of our relatives was shot in the foot, and our neighbor was martyred after being targeted by a drone while trying to return to his home.”
Said adds, “I lost six of my brothers and their children in the recent bombardment, and I cannot bear to lose another member of my family.”
Fear of repeating the tragedy
Leila Jamal, 50, displaced to the Istabl area in Mawasi Khan Yunis, is also living under the weight of sorrow and fear. She says, “I want to return to my destroyed home in the Yebna (refugee) camp, but the heavy fire from Israeli military vehicles prevents me from doing so.”
She continues, “Since the ceasefire was signed, I have tried to return only once, but I couldn’t reach (my home) due to the targeting of the area by gunfire. Others in the area were also injured while trying to return.”
Leila recalls the deep sorrow of losing her brother’s entire family in the recent bombardment, saying, “I do not want this pain to repeat with my family.”
Suffering of the elderly
Even Fatima Hussein, 80, who lives in the Asda area of Mawasi Khan Yunis, cannot return to her destroyed home in the Najma area in central Rafah. “I dream every day of returning to my home in Najma, but the drones prevent us from getting there. Whenever we try to return, we find ourselves facing threats of death,” Fatima says.
A deadly adventure
Mahmoud Ali, 43, from the Shabura camp in Rafah, also wishes to return to his partially destroyed home instead of living in a worn-out tent in Mawasi Khan Yunis. However, he admits that returning is an adventure that could cost him his life. He says, “We hear daily about martyrs and wounded people in Rafah due to the ongoing fire, especially from the Israeli military vehicles that target residential areas.”
