Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – In a heartbreaking turn of events, some Palestinian families in Gaza have been forced to seek refuge in cemeteries, finding no other place to escape the ongoing conflict.
For the past five months, families like that of Maisa Brikah have been living among the graves in a cemetery in Khan Younis. Gravestones serve as makeshift furniture for the approximately 30 families seeking shelter there.
While children play during the day, a sense of unease settles in as night falls. Brikah expressed her children’s fear of the dark, the stray dogs, and the presence of the deceased.
The conflict between Hamas and Israel has displaced a vast majority of Gaza’s population. While some have returned to their homes following the recent ceasefire, others remain displaced.
Life among the graves is a stark reality for these families. Prayer rugs hang alongside tombstones, and children navigate the cemetery with water jugs.
Mohammed Shmah, another resident of the cemetery, shared his fear of the graves at night. He and his family were forced to seek shelter there after their home was destroyed.
The lack of financial resources to find alternative shelter is a major factor keeping these families in the cemetery. Hanan Shmah, Mohammed’s wife, spoke of the constant fear and stress they endure.
The safety of these families is not guaranteed, even in the cemetery. There have been reports of cemeteries being bombed during the conflict, with Israel claiming that Hamas uses these sites for cover.
The search for the dead continues, with both sides working to recover remains. Families in the cemetery have witnessed new burials, often marked by simple stones instead of traditional slabs.
Despite the ceasefire, life remains challenging for these families, with recovery and return feeling distant.
Mohammed Shmah lamented that life remains the same for him even after the ceasefire.
