DaysofPal- Ahmad Halabi moves swiftly, accompanying his mother and siblings in an attempt to gather what remains of clothes and personal belongings from beneath the rubble.
The house that once served as a haven for Al-Halabi family, made up of several members, has now become a pile of stones and destruction, destroyed by the Israeli occupation forces during their recent incursion into northern Gaza, near the Al-Saftawi roundabout.
The fifteen-year-old Ahmad continues to navigate the rubble, trying to salvage whatever he can from his family’s possessions.
Every time he finds a piece of clothing or anything usable, he shouts with joy, announcing to his family that he has discovered something important amidst this destruction.
Despite the brief happiness that Ahmed feels whenever he finds something useful, sadness quickly overcomes him when he remembers the extent of the destruction that has befallen his home, which was once a haven for him and his family and has now become nothing but unrecognizable ruins.
Nearby, Ahmed’s mother stood watching the scene with sorrowful eyes, saying: “The Israeli occupation has destroyed our home and everything here in an attempt to undermine our steadfastness and punish us for holding onto our land, but they are mistaken. Despite these harsh conditions, we will remain resolute, for we are the original owners of this land, and we will not abandon it, no matter the cost.”
The Halabi family lived in a seven-story house, making its destruction a harsh and painful blow. Nevertheless, Ahmad and his family remain deeply attached to the area they have called home their entire lives.
Despite the widespread destruction surrounding them, Al-Halabi family refused to let this tragic reality deter them from staying on the land they rightfully consider theirs.
As Ahmad’s mother said “We cannot leave; we have been here since time immemorial, and this is our beloved land, which we will defend with all we have.”
She adds: “The destruction that has befallen our home is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger tragedy faced by hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.
The goal of this systematic destruction is not only to inflict harm on civilians but also to forcibly drive them from their land and displace them, yet the occupation has failed to achieve its objectives.
“If the occupation believes it can break us with this destruction, it is mistaken. We will not abandon our land, and we will continue to resist with all our might.” She continued.
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