Gaza families flee as Israel's war leaves homes in ruins and children traumatized
The war in Gaza has forced families and medical workers to flee their homes under dire conditions. Among them are Faras Arafat, a 21-year-old nurse who worked at al-Shifa hospital, and Muhammad al-Dirawi, a former prisoner who settled in Gaza City. Both have faced harrowing journeys as Israeli military operations intensified in October 2023.
Muhammad al-Dirawi had spent 11 years in an Israeli prison before returning to Gaza. He built a life in Tel al-Hawa, a neighbourhood in Gaza City, where he raised a family. But on 13 October, the Israeli military ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate southward. His home was struck by airstrikes in the second week of the war, leaving his family with no choice but to seek shelter at al-Shifa hospital.
The hospital, overwhelmed by casualties, became a temporary refuge for many. Faras Arafat, a young nurse, worked tirelessly there before the facility itself came under threat. She was eventually forced to evacuate as Israeli forces closed in. After leaving, she found temporary shelter in a friend's crowded home, where 28 people shared a single space.
The al-Dirawi family also fled farther south, hoping to reach safety. Along the way, they encountered scenes of devastation—corpses and animal remains covered in flies. Their children now suffer from nightmares after witnessing Israeli soldiers for the first time. At one checkpoint in the so-called 'safe corridor,' Arafat saw an elderly man in a wheelchair abandoned by soldiers.
Since October 7, 2023, the Hamas-led Gaza Health Ministry reports between 71,667 and 72,027 deaths, though it does not separate civilians from combatants. The Israeli military estimates that 17,000 to 25,000 of those killed were fighters, suggesting a lower civilian toll when accounting for natural deaths and other factors. No independent body has verified exact figures for civilian casualties since October 13.
The war has displaced thousands, leaving families like the al-Dirawis and workers like Arafat struggling to survive. Many now live in overcrowded shelters or makeshift homes, with little clarity on when—or if—they can return. The long-term impact on those who witnessed the violence remains uncertain.
