More than a year after being abducted by Israeli soldiers, Alaa Abu Zeid’s first priority upon returning to Gaza was to reunite with his wife and children. However, upon his arrival in Khan Younis earlier this month, he discovered that his family was not there to greet him. Alaa’s wife, Hala, and all five of their children were tragically killed in an Israeli airstrike last summer.

Abu Zeid, a 48-year-old headteacher at a UN agency-funded primary school for Palestinian refugees in Bureij, was arrested by Israeli troops along with several other men when they raided the school-turned-shelter in December 2023. Sadly, he would never see his family again.

His brother, Ali, was the only person waiting for him upon his return. Ali expressed the family’s fear for Alaa’s safety during his absence and their mixed emotions of happiness and deep sorrow upon his return. He struggled to find the words to inform Alaa that his wife and children had been killed.

The family – Hala, 49, an educationalist; Nour, 25, an engineer; Alaa, 22, a dentistry student; Riyad, 20, a science student; Walaa, 15; and Mohammed, 13 – were killed in an airstrike on their house in Bureij overnight on August 20, eight months after Alaa was abducted. Ali and his sons tried to rescue their loved ones from the rubble, but there were no survivors. They buried the remains on the same day, as per Muslim tradition.

This tragic story is repeated throughout the Gaza Strip, where according to the local health ministry, 1,400 families have been completely wiped out by Israeli bombing. The arrival of the ceasefire and hostage detainee swaps has brought both joy and pain to Palestinians, as they return home and face the reality of their collective loss.

Ali described how Alaa insisted on visiting the graves immediately. He remained quiet and showed no tears, possibly due to being in shock. Alaa was released on February 15 as part of the fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, during which he maintained that he had no affiliation with Hamas and was an innocent civilian caught in the IDF dragnet.

Emergency legislation introduced after the Palestinian militant group’s attack on Israel in October 2023 resulted in Palestinians from the territory being detained without charge or trial, classified as “unlawful combatants.” The IDF claims that this measure complies with international law.

A previous Guardian investigation documented extreme mistreatment of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, supported by Alaa’s firsthand experience in detention. He suffered severe beatings and his eyesight is now impaired, necessitating surgery. The prison in the Negev desert was overcrowded, freezing, and prisoners were not allowed medical treatment or to wash, leading to outbreaks of scabies and other skin problems.

Abu Zeid was given minimal food, resulting in him losing 25kg in weight. His gaunt appearance upon release shocked his surviving family. According to Ali, Alaa constantly felt like he was facing death during his detention. The Israel Prison Service claims they operate according to the law under the supervision of the state comptroller.

Upon his return, Alaa immediately sensed something was wrong when his wife and children were not there to greet him. He soon discovered the devastating truth from Ali. Alaa is currently recovering at Ali’s damaged home in Bureij and plans to return to teaching once he is fit. However, his experience has changed him – he is quiet and finds it difficult to interact with others. He has turned to reading the Qur’an for solace. As his home was destroyed, there are no pictures of his deceased family to cherish.

Abu Zeid imagined reuniting with his family and living a decent life. Instead, he encountered a catastrophe.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/30/palestinian-hostages-israeli-prison-coming-home-catastrophe