Minutes after the fighting ceased in Gaza on Sunday, Islam Dahliz and his family ventured to their former neighborhood, which had been devastated by conflict. They sought their family home, but were met with a landscape of destruction where familiar landmarks had been reduced to rubble.
Mr. Dahliz eventually recognized a local wedding hall, indicating that their home was nearby, although they had not initially identified it. The realization that the house built by his father over 50 years ago was now a pile of debris left them speechless.
Abed Dahliz, 74, expressed deep sorrow at witnessing the loss of his life's work, stating, “The home I spent so many years building, pouring my savings into, is gone.” This moment was not what the family had envisioned after being displaced multiple times during the conflict.
On the morning of the cease-fire, the family had gathered in their makeshift tent in a park in western Rafah, anxiously awaiting news. They were relieved when the cease-fire was confirmed, prompting them to drive to their neighborhood.
Their home, a spacious two-story building on al-Imam Ali Street, had been shared by three generations. The family had hosted numerous others who had fled the violence, and their agricultural land had been a source of livelihood.
Despite the Israeli military's claims that strikes targeted Hamas fighters in civilian areas, investigations indicated a broader weakening of civilian protections during the conflict. As the Dahliz family had been forced to evacuate, they had not seen their home for months.
Upon returning, they found their land devastated, with trees uprooted and their property marked by the tracks of military vehicles. Mohammed Dahliz lamented the loss of their peaceful agricultural area, stating, “It posed no threat to anyone, no danger to soldiers.”
Islam Dahliz's daughter, Juan, reacted with distress upon seeing images of their destroyed home, recalling happier times spent there. The family returned to the neighborhood the following day, joining others in searching for salvageable belongings.
While they hoped to find cherished items, such as toys belonging to Mohammed's daughter, their search yielded little. However, Islam found some of his old school certificates, providing a brief moment of joy amidst the devastation.
Despite the bleak situation, the family clung to the hope of rebuilding. If a permanent cease-fire could be negotiated, they planned to clear the rubble and restore their home, even if it would not erase their suffering. As dusk approached, they returned to their tent, with only a small carload of remnants from their former lives.