In Jabalia, the biggest of the Gaza Strip’s eight historic refugee camps, and the focus of Israel’s campaign in the past three months, many have returned to live inside their wrecked homes, setting small fires to try to warm their children.
“They are talking about a truce, a ceasefire, and the delivery of aid. It has been three days since we came back, and we cannot find water to drink. We cannot find covers to keep our children warm. We depend on bonfires all night. We wish to have some firewood for the bonfire, we use plastic, which causes diseases,” said Mohammed Badr, a father of 10.
His wife, Umm Nidal, said she could not believe the total destruction.
“There is nothing left, you cannot walk in the streets. Houses collapsed on top of each other. You get lost, you don’t know if this is your home or not,” she said. “The smell of dead bodies, and the martyrs are in the streets.”
