‘It’s like a nuclear bomb has hit’: shocked Palestinians return home to desolation

Palestinians Return Home to Desolation

A week ago, a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, prompting tens of thousands of Palestinians to trickle back into their devastated homes. The returnees were met with an eerie silence, as the once-thriving communities had been reduced to rubble and ruins.

The scale of destruction was overwhelming, leaving families to grapple with the trauma of seeing their homes and neighborhoods no longer recognizable. Suhair al-Absi, a 50-year-old mother of seven, described her home in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan district as "completely destroyed." The once-standing pillars now lay shattered on the ground, a stark reminder of the devastation that had unfolded.

For Absi and many others, the return to their homes was a heart-wrenching experience. She recounted how she and her family fled their home at the last minute, watching in horror as tanks rolled through Gaza City, supposedly aimed at crushing any vestiges of Hamas. The trauma of that event still lingered, as Absi struggled to come to terms with the loss of her childhood home.

Others, like Susan al-Shayah, returned to find their homes had vanished into a sea of rubble. She described the shock and despair she felt, unable to pinpoint the exact location of her house among the destruction. For Shayah's family, finding shelter became an immediate priority, as they set up camp in a nearby school with limited water supply.

The humanitarian situation remains dire, with the UN reporting that shipments of tents had gone missing due to looting. Hany Abed-Rabou, a 60-year-old contractor, was one of many who lost loved ones during the conflict – his grandson and son were both killed in a shelter. The grief was compounded by the loss of four family homes, which now lay as ruins.

The road to recovery seems uncertain for Gaza's residents, with Abed-Rabou refusing to leave his ancestral home, saying "I was born here, grew up here and I will die here."

man what a mess in gaza right now it's like they're trying to erase the past but instead of peace & love they just got destruction & despair u feel for these ppl who lost everything - homes, fam, loved ones it's heartbreaking to see the trauma still lingering 4 decades on and can we talk about how messed up looting is? like, tents were meant for refugees not thieves hope some help comes soon 2 rebuild & bring back some semblance of normal life

This is just heartbreaking. I can only imagine how tough it must be to return to a place that's been devastated like that. The scale of destruction is just mind-boggling. Families are left with nothing but rubble and ruins, and the trauma of losing loved ones is still fresh. It's so sad that even after a ceasefire, the humanitarian situation remains dire.

I'm also really concerned about the UN reporting that shipments of tents went missing due to looting. That's just terrible. The people in Gaza need all the help they can get right now. It's heartbreaking to see families having to set up camp in schools with limited water supply.

It's clear that Abed-Rabou's feelings are valid - he has a strong emotional connection to his ancestral home and it's hard for him to imagine leaving it behind. I wish there was more support available for people like him, who are struggling to cope with the loss of their loved ones and homes.

Seeing these pictures and stories of people returning to their destroyed homes is just heartbreaking... It's like they're being forced to relive the trauma all over again. The scale of destruction is just devastating, it's hard to believe that this is what we're living in today. The fact that families are struggling to find shelter and basic necessities like water makes you want to scream. We need to do more to help these people, not just send aid but also listen to their voices and hear their stories.

It's not just about the physical destruction, it's also about the emotional toll that this has taken on them. They're losing their childhood homes, they're losing loved ones... It's like the world is moving forward without them. We need to slow down and think about what we can do to support these people in a meaningful way.

I don't know if I'll ever be able to fully process the loss of life that happened in Gaza... It's just so senseless. We need to keep working towards peace and understanding, not just throwing money at the problem without thinking about the root causes.

This is so weird... all these people are returning home only to find it's been reduced to rubble... what's the real reason for this ceasefire? Is it just a ploy to get them back in there so they can't organize themselves or something? I mean, think about it, their homes were destroyed on purpose, people got killed... it's like someone wanted to create chaos and then stepped back, waiting for the dust to settle. And what about all these 'missing' shipments of tents? That sounds fishy to me . The UN is always saying these things are just accidents, but I'm not buying it. It smells like a big cover-up to me...

man...this is just so heartbreaking ...the return of the Palestinians to their desolate homes is like a punch to the gut...it's like the world just forgot about them for a second...i mean, can you even imagine coming back home after everything is destroyed and finding that your childhood memories are nothing but rubble? it's like, what even is the point of rebuilding if there's no one left to call home?

and the scale of destruction is just mind-blowing...i keep thinking about all those families who lost loved ones, homes, everything...it's not just about the physical stuff, it's about the emotional trauma and the loss of identity that comes with seeing your community reduced to nothing.

and what really gets me is the uncertainty of the future...will they ever be able to rebuild? will they even want to? i think about my own life and how much comfort i take for granted...a roof over my head, food on the table, access to basic human rights...what's it like to not have any of that?

i guess what i'm trying to say is that this whole situation is a reminder that war isn't just about guns and bombs, it's about people's lives, hopes, dreams...and it's up to us to make sure we learn from our mistakes and create a better world for everyone

can't even imagine how hard it must be to go back to ur childhood home and see it like that . i mean, tanks and all, it's just heartbreaking. and the fact that shipments of tents went missing due to looting is just wow...like, what's the point of recovery if u got robbed of the essentials? also sad to hear abed-rabou's story...losin a family member is bad enough, but losin ur home too? that's just cruel . anyone think govts should do more to help ppl rebuild their homes?

this is just devastating... can you even imagine coming back to your childhood home after everything it went through? the trauma is real, it's not just about the physical destruction, it's about the memories and emotions that come with it. it's heartbreaking to see people struggling to find shelter and basic necessities like water. the humanitarian situation is dire and we need to keep an eye on it. hopefully, the international community will step in to provide some aid and support to these families who have been through so much

my heart just broke reading about this . can you even imagine coming back to your childhood home only to find it reduced to rubble? it's like their stories of war and struggle were just a distant memory, now living in the present reality . i'm so sorry for these families who lost loved ones and homes - four homes down, what will they rebuild with? and what about hany abed-rabou, his grief is still so raw... saying he'll die there seems like an impossible task, but at least he's holding on to his roots . we can only imagine the emotional toll of coming back to a desolate place...

u guys know what's wild? i just got some info from a source that the Israeli gov is offering to rebuild homes in exchange forraeli civilians' testimonies about what really happened during the conflict. like, sounds legit right? but honestly idk if thats gonna help anyone heal... these ppl are literally seeing their childhoods reduced to dust . meanwhile, the world just keeps on moving and the questions keep on unanswered . i'm trying to get more deets but it's all super hush hush rn

It's heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of war on innocent civilians, especially when they return home to find their homes reduced to rubble . The loss of property, livelihoods, and loved ones can be traumatic for families like Suhair al-Absi's, who've had to deal with the aftermath of a ceasefire that didn't quite live up to its promises . And what really gets me is that even basic necessities like tents are being looted, leaving people without access to shelter or basic human needs . Hany Abed-Rabou's words, though emotional, highlight the deep connection many Gaza residents have with their ancestral homes – it's not just about recovery, but about preserving a sense of identity and community .

it's so sad what these ppl r goin thru, returnin home only 2 desolation, cant even find their own homes anymore . its like they r livin in a war zone, n nothin seems 2 work 4 them . UN says shipments of tents went missin due 2 looting, so whos helpin these ppl now?

it's devastating to see these ppl come back 2 their homes 2 find it's just ruins u can imagine how traumatic that must be 4 them & their families. the scale of destruction is just mind-boggling, i mean tanks rolling thru neighborhoods, ppl losing homes & loved ones... it's heartbreaking 2 think about the kids who didn't get 2 experience childhood in those very same streets what's most disturbing is the humanitarian situation, looting and all can someone pls explain why shipments of tents went missing? seems like a basic necessity 4 these ppl struggling 2 find shelter at least Abed-Rabou's determination 2 stay in his home is a testament 2 how much it means 2 him & his family

man this is so heartbreaking what kind of world are we living in where people have to go back to their homes after a war and find them destroyed like that can't we just try to help each other out instead of fighting

Man this situation in Gaza is just heartbreaking . I mean the scale of destruction is insane, it's like they came into these towns and just... erased them . And to see all these families returning home only to find their homes are nothing but rubble, it's devastating . The UN is trying to help, but looting on top of everything else makes it even harder for them . I can only imagine how tough it must be for people like Abed-Rabou who lost loved ones and a sense of security that place holds so dear . It's gonna take a long time to rebuild, but these people need our support and understanding right now .

idk why ppl r making such a big deal about palestine returnin back 2 their homes its like they forgot its been thru hell already. everyone's just focused on the drama of it all, forgettin about the actual rebuildin process

ppl need 2 stop thinkin about themselves & focus on helpin those in need not everythin's perfect, u can still find beauty in desolation

idk why ppl r complaining about the destruction in gaza, its like they forgot that it was a war zone & now its just a mess . if ur fam's hom had to be blown up by tanks then thats not a reason 4 a parade, its a fact of life. some ppl r just expecting ppl 2 come back & live happily ever after without any issues? get real . i mean dont get me wrong, its sad 4 those who lost their homes but if u cant handle the heat, stay outta gaza

idk what to make of this situation... like, on one hand, its super sad that ppl had to flee their homes & come back to find them destroyed but at the same time, isnt it kinda weird that they just showed up w/o any warning or prep for a ceasefire? dont get me wrong, i feel 4 the people who lost loved ones & stuff, but like, cant we even get a proper recon of the area 1st before ppl start moving back in?

& what's with the UN reporting on looting? shouldnt they be more concerned w/ getting ppl the resources they need to rebuild instead of pointing fingers & hany abed-rabou just... i feel bad for him, but like, cant he see that staying there might not b good 4 him or his fam in the long run? im torn between wanting to support ppl who lost everything & being all "but think about the bigger pic"

you know what's crazy? have you ever noticed how some old movies still sound amazing even though they're like 20+ years old? like, i was watching a rom-com from the early 2000s with my sis last week and we were both laughing so hard at the dialogue it just sounds so cheesy now but back then it was so charming