Ahmed Abu Aita lives in a refugee camp in northern Gaza. Millions of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced by Israeli bombardment and military action that began on October 7 following attacks by Hamas and other armed groups in southern Israel.
Ahmed Abu Aita lost 45 relatives including his wife and son. Before the Gaza war, his family ran a dairy business, but on 20 October 2023 their establishment was destroyed in an airstrike.
“The pain of losing your family, your son and your wife is indescribable,” he told Ziad Taleb, the UN news correspondent in the Gaza Strip.
“I was buried under the rubble. I screamed for help for two days but no one heard me. This area was considered dangerous and hence no one was here. “Finally, a neighbor heard my screams for help.”
“Some of my family members are still buried under the rubble.”
Ahmed Abu Aita shows his destroyed home in northern Gaza.
Hamas attacks
On October 7, attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups killed around 1,200 people and took 250 hostages.
Since then, more than 40,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza.
Additionally, more than 90 percent of the population has been forced to relocate, many of whom have been displaced multiple times.
‘As if sentenced to death’
Jonathan Whittall is a senior humanitarian officer at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Gaza Strip.
He said many Palestinians in Gaza feel as if everyone has been sentenced to death.
“Either they are dying from bombs and bullets, or they are slowly suffocating because they have no way to survive.”
The UN official expressed his anger and said, the only difference is the speed, you will die.
Jonathan Whittall, United Nations Humanitarian Officer for the Gaza Strip.
A year of destruction, displacement and despair
Jonathan Whittall said that in the past year, almost all residents of the Gaza Strip have been forced to leave their homes due to widespread destruction, displacement of the Palestinian population and despair.
Now only 13 percent of the total area of the Gaza Strip is sheltered. Ahmed Abu Aita lives in a small classroom in a school with 12 others.
He wants to regain his life before the war. “Although it is impossible, I hope my martyred family members will return.”
He also expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Gaza. According to them, they have to stand in line in the sun to get a few liters of filtered water. We are also struggling to gather wood for the fire.
Hoping to return to the old days
Gaza is currently experiencing food and safe water shortages. There is insufficient shelter for the poor and the health system is broken.
UN humanitarian officer Jonathan Whittall said, in this situation, UN agencies are being prevented from delivering humanitarian aid to those in need every day.
Despite the horrific devastation and massive loss of life, Ahmed Abu Aita’s spirit remains intact. He said, no matter how much the occupying forces impose on them, no matter how much they are destroyed, we will not lose courage.
“We will build again. “Inshallah, we will come back stronger.” He wants to rebuild his business to continue his father’s name and legacy.