Ayish Younis, at 89, recounts the profound heartbreak of 1948 when his family fled their home in Barbara during the first Arab-Israeli war. He remembers the fear, the journey on a camel, and the stark reality of living in a tent once more in Al-Mawasi, Gaza. His family’s home in Rafah was destroyed, leaving them with only the land deeds as a reminder of what was lost.
He reflects on his life – his marriage to Khadija, their 18 children and 79 grandchildren, many of whom are highly educated and have found opportunities abroad. Despite a lifetime of resilience, Ayish expresses deep pessimism about Gaza’s future, questioning if reconstruction is even possible given the scale of the destruction. He holds onto the hope of one day returning to Barbara, a place he last saw as a child.
His sons, Nizar and Ahmed, echo his sentiments, highlighting the generational trauma and the uncertainty that looms over Gaza. Ahmed, now living in London, laments the cycle of loss, where families rebuild only to face devastation again. Yet, amidst the despair, there’s a flicker of hope in the younger generation’s determination to rebuild their lives and their homeland.