Gaza's Resilience Amid Devastation: Jabalia’s Struggle.

The situation in Jabalia, a northern region of Gaza, presents a grim scene of devastation. From an aerial view, the extent of the destruction is staggering, with collapsed buildings and dangling debris amidst piles of rubble. The once-bustling refugee camp, now reduced to a wasteland, is almost unrecognizable, making it hard to discern the landscape from its former state.

Yet, using drone cameras, scattered tents in blue and white can be spotted where camps have been set up in the flat terrain. Amidst the rubble, new markets have emerged, although garbage is scattered throughout, and children play near the twisted remains of the destroyed buildings.

Six weeks after a ceasefire agreement was reached, Jabalia has begun to slowly regain its footing, with normal life starting to resume in some capacity.

Nabil stands among the wreckage of his four-story apartment building, which he had to abandon at the height of the conflict. The damage is severe, with no windows, doors, and a side of the building missing altogether. His family has tried to make do by building makeshift walls from planks of wood to prevent the structure from collapsing further. "Look at this destruction," Nabil says as he surveys the rubble of his beloved home. "Do they want us to leave without rebuilding our homes? What are we supposed to do? The only thing we can do is repair it for our children."

In another part of the neighborhood, Laila Ahmed Okasha is cleaning a surface where sewage water had been stagnant for months. "We have no water, no electricity, and the pipes are all broken," she explains. "If we need water, we have to travel to distant areas." Laila, who wept when she returned to find her house reduced to ruins, blames both Israel and Hamas for the devastation of her home. "They are both to blame," she says, "We had good homes and lived peaceful lives."

In October 2023, when the conflict intensified, Israel had urged Palestinians in Gaza, including those in Jabalia, to move south for their safety. Thousands heeded the call, but many others, like Laila and her husband Marwan, stayed, determined to withstand the onslaught. It wasn’t until Israeli forces once again stormed Jabalia, accusing Hamas of regrouping in the camp, that they were forced to leave.

After spending two months in a nearby refugee camp in Shati, Laila and Marwan returned to find Jabalia unrecognizable. "When I came back and saw the destruction, I didn't want to stay," Marwan says. "I had a good life before, but now it feels like hell. If I get the chance to leave, I will. I won't stay for a single minute more."

Such accounts reflect the dire plight of Gaza's residents. The fate of civilians in Gaza has sparked an intense international debate, with questions about whether they should stay or leave the region. In February, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. should take control of Gaza, with nearly two million Palestinian residents being urged to leave, possibly permanently. The proposal was met with widespread condemnation, with Trump walking back his statement, clarifying that it was merely a suggestion, not a mandate.

Meanwhile, Egypt has been leading Arab nations in efforts to find alternative solutions to the ongoing crisis, with plans to present a resolution at an emergency Arab League meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.

Egypt insists that Palestinians should remain in Gaza while the area is rebuilt. However, Trump’s suggestion has illuminated a more controversial stance on Gaza, highlighting the challenges it faces, including the tension between accepting external intervention and maintaining its resolve.

Laila expresses defiance in the face of such proposals. "If Trump wants us to leave, I will stay in Gaza," she says. "I want to travel on my own terms, not because of him." This resilient spirit reflects the determination of many Gazans to continue fighting, despite the overwhelming challenges and devastating circumstances they face.

In one part of Jabalia, a nine-story building, once a vibrant residential structure, has been severely damaged. The upper floors have collapsed entirely, posing a risk to the remaining structure. However, other families have taken refuge there, with clothes hanging out of broken windows and drying in the sun as the cold season ends.

Amidst the rubble, Sanaa Abu Ishbak, a 45-year-old seamstress and mother of 11, stands in front of her now-ruined wedding dress shop. Sanaa had started her business two years before the war but had to flee south in November 2023. After the ceasefire was declared, she returned to the area. With the help of her husband and daughters, Sanaa has been cleaning up the debris and organizing the shop, hoping to restart her business.

"I love Jabalia," she says with determination. "And I will not leave until I die."

Sanaa and Laila represent the unwavering resolve of many women in Gaza who are determined to remain in their homeland, despite the severe challenges they face.

However, as they speak of future generations, their voices soften with concern. "She doesn't even know how to write her name," Laila says, referring to a child in Gaza, expressing worry about the lack of education in the region.

"There's no education in Gaza," she adds, sadness in her voice as she contemplates the future of the children. Laila's granddaughter, whose mother was killed during the conflict, still communicates with her grandmother every night. "She was my soul’s beloved," Laila says, recalling the loss. "If I get the chance to travel, I will do it for my granddaughter," she vows, showcasing her resolve to provide a better life for the child despite the dire circumstances.

These stories from Gaza are not just about economic and social hardship but also about the resilience and determination to move forward, despite the horrors of war and destruction.