Haunted by grief, Gaza’s displaced still wait overseas for return
Summary
Thousands of displaced Gazans remain stranded abroad, still mourning relatives killed in the war and waiting for conditions that would allow them to return home. Omar al-Hassayna, who lost much of his family in Israeli strikes, says he will go back only when Gaza is stable and reconstruction begins.
Key Points
- More than 100,000 Gazans who left the enclave during the war remain stranded overseas, according to Palestinian Authority figures.
- Omar al-Hassayna fled to Cairo after an Israeli airstrike killed much of his extended family, including his wife, sons and grandchildren.
- Nearly a year after the ceasefire, Israeli forces still control much of Gaza and reconstruction has barely started.
- Some displaced Palestinians have returned, but many others say they cannot go back until Gaza’s security and future become clearer.
