A Heartbreaking Homecoming
The Al-Masri family longed for solace upon their return to Gaza City after months of displacement. Instead, they faced unimaginable loss. Their home was rubble, and their family cemetery—where generations rested—was bulldozed beyond recognition.
Ahmed Al-Masri, 55, stared at the wreckage in disbelief. “My father, my grandparents—they were buried here,” he whispered, sifting through debris. “Now, there’s nothing left. Not even their bones.” His wife, Aisha, collapsed, weeping.
Gaza City: A Landscape of Ruin
Once a thriving urban center, Gaza City now lies in ruins. Airstrikes and military operations have flattened neighborhoods, leaving charred buildings, shattered roads, and the stench of decay. For returning families, the destruction of cemeteries adds a cruel layer to their grief.
Local imam Khalid Hassan shared, “We bury our dead with dignity. To see their resting places desecrated cuts deep into our souls.”
No Accountability, No Closure
No one knows who bulldozed the graves—or why. Some blame military operations; others call it collateral damage. With Gaza’s authorities overwhelmed and international groups unable to investigate, accountability remains elusive.
“For what?” Ahmed asked. “Even if it was a mistake, my ancestors’ graves are gone. My children lost their roots.”
A Future Held Hostage
Returning was meant to signal hope. Instead, the Al-Mrisis face homelessness, exhaustion, and erasure. Ahmed’s son Youssef, 17, scoffed, “Rebuild? It’ll just be destroyed again.” Across Gaza, despair grows as reconstruction stalls and violence looms.
“Remember Us”
At dusk, Ahmed scooped dirt from his father’s ravaged grave. “This is all I have left,” he said. His plea echoes across Gaza: “We are not just numbers. We had homes, graves, dreams.”
Now, those dreams lie buried—like the bones of his family.
