Haunted by grief, Gaza’s displaced still wait overseas for return

Omar al-Hassayna fled Gaza for Cairo after an Israeli airstrike devastated his large family. Three years later, he remains there, waiting for stability and reconstruction in his devastated homeland. Hassayna is part of over 100,000 Gazans who left the enclave during the war sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

They still mourn their deceased relatives and destroyed homes. While Hassayna left Gaza and came to Egypt, the situation remains unchanged. Israeli forces still control more than 60% of the territory, conducting daily airstrikes. Hamas controls the majority of the area where Palestinians live, with inadequate aid supplies and no expected reconstruction soon.

Over 308 members of Hassayna's family were killed when Israeli strikes destroyed their apartment during a strike on November 22, 2023, including his wife, four adult sons, four small grandchildren, and his youngest child. Hassayna's oldest son is also in Cairo along with his own four children, as is the widow of one of his deceased sons with her daughter.

Some 7,000 Palestinians have returned to Gaza since August. Hassayna owns a business in Gaza and occasionally sells goods to fund his stay in Cairo. Despite some Israeli politicians encouraging the return of those who left, only about 7,000 have returned. Hassayna believes Egypt will prevent the widespread displacement of those who fled Gaza.

He hopes that if Gaza returns to stability with an international agreement and construction begins, he will return to contribute positively to his country.