Choiceless
I am lucky, my home in Gaza City, my flat in a seven story building is still standing. Many apartments are damaged, several are burnt, but my flat is still good. No windows, of course, as they were blown out due to severe bombing nearby. The front door was broken by the Israeli army when they invaded the building and forced the neighbours who had remained to leave to the south of Gaza in late March 2024.
When the Israeli army left the area, some neighbours called their friends to go and check on the building. Looters had not reached the building yet. The friends of the neighbours brought a blacksmith who welded the doors so it could’t be broken into. During the truce, my neighbours went back to the building. My home is safe.
Three days ago, with the resumption of the genocide and displacement orders to people in North Gaza, I received messages from my sister, my brother, and my friend Basel, all asking to use my apartment as they have no other place to go.
My sister with her husband and 5 children
My brother with his wife and 6 children
My friend with his wife, mother, 4 children, daughter-in-law and granddaughter
What can I do? To whom I should give my home? I don’t know? I am unable to decide.
I have not replied yet to any of them and I feel torn apart.