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Gaza City – As the war broke out, families in Gaza faced the emotional decision to either remain in the north or move south to the designated “safe zones.” Many women who chose to travel south were forced to leave their husbands behind, often alone with small children, without any certainty of when they would reunite with their families. Since October, the Israeli military has established checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street and al-Rasheed Street – the only major routes connecting northern and southern Gaza – which have hindered movement between these areas. The fate of tens of thousands displaced from north to south remains shrouded in uncertainty. Many long to quickly return to their homes and loved ones, whom they were forced to leave behind.

Raheel, a 27-year-old newlywed, faced indescribable grief as she had to leave her husband, Abdel Kareem, also known as “Abed.” Her father insisted that she travel south, as Israeli forces had promised safe passage. “I fear war. My body trembles at each explosion,” Raheel explained. Although she had previously sought refuge with her aunt in Gaza City, she felt a deep discomfort at leaving her husband behind. As she traveled south, she left Gaza City without being able to say goodbye to Abed. Her journey was marked by fear and uncertainty as she had to navigate living in overcrowded shelters with limited resources. Many nights, she lay awake with tears streaming down her cheeks, praying to hear from her husband or her father. “I cannot describe the pain of not knowing if they are safe,” she said.

Walaa, a mother of three, found herself in a similar situation. Encouraged by her husband, she took their children from the Shati refugee camp to a relative’s house in Gaza. Walaa struggled to be both mother and father in an environment dominated by bombings and scarce resources. Communication was nearly impossible, and the children often asked about their father. “The hardest part is not knowing how he is doing,” she said.

In contrast to Walaa and Raheel, Doaa and her husband Abdullah decided to stay in Northern Gaza, believing that their civilian status could protect them. Unfortunately, their hopes were shattered when the Israeli military invaded the area, and Abdullah was taken captive. Doaa has had no contact with him for nearly 60 days, and the thought of his fate gnaws at her. “I had to be strong for my daughter, Lolo,” Doaa explained. With her heart filled with longing for her husband and sorrow over the home they have lost, Doaa and her daughter continue with their lives. “We endure because we have to,” she said. “For our children, for our families, we have no other choice.”

The stories of these three women highlight the harrowing human cost of the war in Gaza, where families are torn apart by fear, uncertainty, and the hope for a better future.

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