BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip — Ne’man Abu Jarad and his family returned to their home in northern Gaza after enduring 15 months of conflict and displacement. The landscape around their home, previously adorned with a vibrant grove of orange, olive, and palm trees, has been completely transformed as all the flora was uprooted. The family’s garden, dotted with roses and jasmine that had provided them joy, was also gone. Their house remained standing, albeit damaged in the aftermath of the war.
On Monday, a wave of emotions washed over Ne’man, his wife Majida, and three of their daughters as they arrived back. They dropped their bags and fell to their knees in gratitude, whispering praises, as the fiery orange sunset enveloped the sky above. After 477 harrowing days of fleeing bombardments, living in makeshift tents, and struggling to find food and water, they had finally returned to what was left of their home.
“This joy surpasses any other happiness we’ve known, not even marriage or the birth of a child matches this feeling,” Majida expressed, highlighting the indescribable relief they felt. The family’s ordeal began on October 7, 2023, when a massive Israeli offensive ensued after Hamas’s attack on southern Israel, displacing about 1.8 million Palestinians. Ne’man and his family were forced to move multiple times, adapting to increasingly dire situations until they found themselves at a sprawling tent camp near Khan Younis with dwindling hope of returning.
The turning point came earlier this month when a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas. Energized by the prospect of returning home, Majida eagerly began to pack their belongings on January 19, the first day of the ceasefire. The next day, it was announced that Israeli forces would relax their military grip on some roads, permitting displaced families to return north.
Starting out early on Monday at 5 a.m., the Abu Jarad family loaded their car with essential belongings, reaching the edge of the Netzarim Corridor, which had previously barred their return. From there, they joined throngs of other returning families and embarked on a walk along the coastal road heading north. Ne’man, 49, bore the weight of their sacks for approximately 8 kilometers, taking breaks to regroup and rest, occasionally dropping items along the way.
“Our joy imbues us with strength, allowing us to forget our exhaustion,” Majida remarked, even as the journey proved treacherous. Once they reached the outskirts of Gaza City, they hired a van for their remaining journey; however, it soon ran out of fuel, prolonging their return. As they traversed the city through streets littered with rubble and ruin, they witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of over a year’s worth of conflict in the north.
Ne’man gazed out at the destruction that marked their once-familiar surroundings and remarked on the intensified devastation. It struck him how their neighborhood had become a mere shadow of its former self, particularly as they approached Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun, areas severely affected by the latest rounds of aerial strikes. By the time they reached their neighborhood, the sight left Ne’man’s daughters in shock, with some gasping and pointing towards the remnants of flattened buildings.
Upon arrival at their home’s location, Ne’man’s joy overflowed; he expressed gratitude, chanting, “God is great, God is great,” while examining the structure that had endured. To his relief, he discovered that a flowering vine in front of the house had survived. However, as one of his daughters explored inside, her tears reflected the intermingled emotions of shock, sorrow, joy, and relief.
Despite their return, the family would have to navigate survival in a landscape drastically altered by war. Access to basic necessities such as food and water remained a daunting challenge, leaving many reliant on humanitarian assistance, which was being increased during the ceasefire. With no electricity and many residents facing homelessness, the Abu Jarads would soon need to address these profound new realities.
Next to their home lay the remnants of Ne’man’s brother’s three-story house, now reduced to rubble from airstrikes, which had also damaged Ne’man’s home. Nevertheless, he expressed resolution to repair what he could, drawing strength from the belief that some parts remained intact.
The toll of the conflict weighed heavily on Ne’man, as he mourned family members who had lost lives and homes, and neighbors who had suffered similar fates. He anticipated facing hardships and challenges again as he would need to trek several kilometers for water, reminiscent of their struggles while displaced. “Yet again, we find ourselves amidst suffering and fatigue.”
