ZIAD IN GAZA

 I receive a phone call from my friend to check on me. He shares the story of his neighbour who decided to stay with his elderly father in their apartment in Gaza City while his family went south. “They barely have contact with him. His father’s health is deteriorating. The horror they are facing is unbelievable. They don’t have enough food or water. His family here is dying every second away from him.”

My other friend starts discussing with me the situation after the nightmare is over. She is worried about all the people who would go back to their areas but would be homeless; or for those who will have to spend thousands of dollars to fix their houses to meet the bare minimum standards of living. She speaks about the emotional distress every Gazan will have to deal with.

But she is thinking about the aftermath, which means that she thinks it will be over, and even over soon. It’s not that I lack this optimism, but from what I see, hear and learn, it is going to take a much longer time.