From Shuja'iyya Neighborhood to the Unknown: Mahmoud’s Story
A Father from Gaza Who Lost His Home and Mother Amidst War
The Beginning of the Nightmare: October 7, 2023
On the morning of October 7, 2023, at exactly 6:30 AM, we woke up to the sounds of explosions shaking the Shuja'iyya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. I was at home with my wife, a nurse, and our daughter, who was then only five months old. We had no idea that this day would mark the beginning of a long nightmare of displacement, hunger, and loss.
Fleeing the Bombardment and Losing Safety
I was working from home as a software developer, and our life was simple but full of love. Within hours, our border area became a constant target of shelling, forcing us to flee just two hours after the war began. I carried my daughter in my arms, and we walked into the unknown, leaving behind our home, safety, work, and memories.
Losing Family and Home
As the war continued, a mass displacement took place from northern Gaza to its south. All my family members moved south, except for me, my wife, and my daughter. In early December, I lost my sick mother. I was unable to say goodbye or see her one last time. I was trapped in the north, isolated from the world, with no way to reach or even inquire about her.
I learned about her death days later due to communication blackouts and severe movement restrictions. I could neither be by her side nor bid her farewell.
To this day, I do not know where she was buried.
In the same month, our home was destroyed by bombing, and we were left with nothing. We became homeless, moving from place to place in search of the bare necessities. We searched everywhere for milk for our daughter, food to fill her hunger, and clean water. The baby cried for hours from hunger, and we had nothing to offer her. My wife’s milk dried up from fear and starvation, and we could not even find a piece of bread.
Life Under Siege: The Struggle to Survive
Under the ongoing siege, the simplest necessities of life turned into daily challenges. We had very little and struggled to find clean water and enough food. We lit fires using wood and branches collected from the rubble to prepare a modest meal that could sustain us for a short time.
A single loaf of bread became our main source of sustenance, which we shared and rationed over several days, hoping to make it last longer. Living in a torn tent provided neither warmth in winter nor shelter from the scorching heat of summer.
Our family suffers from a shortage of medicine and continuous power outages, accompanied by a constant feeling of insecurity and lack of privacy. Despite all this, my wife tries to stay strong and care for us, while I fight the darkness inside to be a pillar for my daughter in these harsh conditions.
Constant Fear: Our Unyielding Companion
Fear has become a daily companion. The drones never leave the sky, and every explosion revives panic. We do not know if we will survive until the end of the day or become another number on the list of victims.
Conclusion
Despite the darkness that surrounds us, and the endless challenges we face every day, I still hold on to hope — hope that peace will return, that my daughter will grow up in a safe world, and that one day we will rebuild what was lost.
This story is not just mine; it is the story of thousands of families caught in the crossfire. I share it with the world not to seek pity, but to ask for understanding and support.
We are more than victims — we are resilient human beings longing for dignity, safety, and a chance to live.
Please hear our voices, and help us bring an end to this suffering.
You can donate to support Mahmoud via Chuffed.
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