DaysofPal- Amid displacement, destruction, and ongoing war, Palestinian refugees in Gaza continue to hold firmly to a deeply rooted hope: returning to the lands their families were forced to flee decades ago.
Standing beside her makeshift tent west of Gaza City, 50-year-old Muazzaza Abu Qeinas shares stories with her young grandson Malik about their ancestral village of Rubin, from which their family was expelled in 1948.
“This is our land, and Rubin is our land; we will return to it,” she tells him, passing down a legacy shaped by memory and loss.
Her words come as Palestinians marked the 50th anniversary of Land Day, a symbol of their enduring connection to their homeland.
For Abu Qeinas, the occasion reinforced her determination to remain steadfast despite the ongoing efforts to forcibly displace Gaza’s population following widespread destruction during the war that began on October 7, 2023.
Once living with her extended family in three residential buildings on Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza City, Abu Qeinas says their homes were reduced to rubble during the conflict. After returning from a previous displacement, they found nothing left.
Now living in overcrowded conditions where displaced families are confined to less than half of Gaza’s territory, she struggles to secure even a small space for her tent.
Much of the enclave remains under Israeli military control, further limiting movement and shelter options.
Her married son, she adds, was forced to relocate with his family to Deir al-Balah in central Gaza due to the lack of space in the city.
Despite the hardship, Abu Qeinas insists that both rebuilding Gaza and returning to Rubin are non-negotiable rights. “We wish we could at least smell its air,” she says, expressing deep longing for the village she knows only through stories passed down from her parents and grandparents. “I will not leave Gaza except to return to Rubin. We live on this land, and we will die on it.”
Her resolve echoes that of 72-year-old Ayada Abu Ayada, another displaced resident who now lives in a worn-out tent after being forced from his home in the Karama area of Gaza.
Seeking warmth under the sun after a recent cold spell, Abu Ayada recalls how his apartment was destroyed months ago, leaving him homeless. He describes repeated displacement under fire, moving across central and southern Gaza before settling in his current location.
A refugee originally from Beersheba, Abu Ayada says he once visited his family’s ancestral home and felt a strong desire to remain there. Today, he clings to that memory as he faces dire living conditions.
Suffering from heart problems and having previously undergone a catheterization procedure, his health has worsened due to limited access to medical care.
The ongoing blockade has severely restricted the entry of medicine, supplies, and humanitarian aid, exacerbating the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
For many Palestinians, the memory of displacement is not just history; it is identity. The anniversary of Land Day, first observed in 1976 following protests against land confiscations, remains a powerful reminder of their connection to the land.
As Israeli occupation continues to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, the commemoration carries renewed pain and urgency.
Yet, despite overcrowded tents, harsh living conditions, and repeated displacement, the dream of return persists.
Among Gaza’s refugees, memory has become a form of resistance, with stories passed from grandparents to grandchildren, keeping alive the belief that return is not merely a hope but an enduring right.
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