The current truce, set to expire in early March, remains uncertain regarding extension. Abd al-Karim expressed his desire for peace in the country, hoping to return to his homeland.
His family, along with several other Palestinian families, sought safety in the Egyptian city of el-Arish. From his balcony, Abd al-Karim can see the sea, serving as a symbol of the only escape for Palestinians in Gaza due to a suffocating Israeli and Egyptian blockade.
Prior to the war, Gaza endured a blockade imposed after Hamas seized power in 2007. Previous wars and divisions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority also harmed Gaza’s economy. However, the recent war has left the Gaza Strip devastated.
Karim, Abd al-Karim’s eldest son, remembered the challenges faced after being displaced from northern Gaza. They stayed in a small room for 200 days before leaving for el-Arish.
The war displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s population. Despite a ceasefire, many Palestinians returning to their former homes found them in ruins.
Despite plans by Trump and Israel to depopulate the coastal enclave, Palestinians have resisted. Karim expressed his wish to return to his country, reunite with friends and family, and for Gaza to regain its former glory.
