The Abu Jarad family's life has been irrevocably altered by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Once residing in a comfortable home in Beit Hanoun, they have been forced to relocate seven times over the past year, each move bringing new challenges and hardships.
Ne'man Abu Jarad, his wife Majida, and their six daughters have traversed the length of the Gaza Strip, a territory merely 41 km long and 6-12 km wide. Their journey reflects the plight of nearly 1.9 million Palestinians displaced by the conflict, in one of the world's most densely populated areas.
Before the war, the Abu Jarads enjoyed a middle-class life in northern Gaza. Their home was a haven of comfort and familial warmth, with a garden adorned with grapevines and potted flowers. This stability was shattered on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, prompting a swift and devastating response.
The family's odyssey began that day, as they heeded evacuation orders and left their home. Over the following months, they sought refuge in various locations:
- Relatives' home in Beit Lahiya (October 7-13, 2023)
- Al-Quds hospital (October 13-15, 2023)
- A crowded school in Nuseirat refugee camp (October 15-December 26, 2023)
- Tent camp in Rafah (December 26, 2023-May 14, 2024)
- "Humanitarian zone" in Muwasi (May 16-August 16, 2024)
- Temporary shelter by the sea (August 16-26, 2024)
- Return to Muwasi (Late August 2024)
Each relocation brought new challenges. In the school, over 100 people shared a single classroom. In Rafah, they experienced their first taste of tent living, battling winter rains and summer heat. The "humanitarian zone" in Muwasi, ironically, offered little in terms of aid or basic necessities.
The conflict has taken a severe toll on Gaza's infrastructure and economy. With limited access to clean water and electricity, and an unemployment rate among the world's highest, survival has become a daily struggle for the Abu Jarads and countless others.
"We are jealous of who? Of the people who were killed. Because they found relief while we are still suffering, living horrors, torture and heartbreak."
The family's experience is set against the backdrop of Gaza's complex history. Once part of the British Mandate of Palestine, then under Egyptian administration, and later occupied by Israel, Gaza has been governed by Hamas since 2007. The territory has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt for over 16 years, severely limiting movement and economic opportunities for its predominantly young population.
As the conflict continues, the Abu Jarad family, like many others, longs for the stability and comfort of their former life. Their story is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of those caught in its midst.