All We Want is to Live
Date: 
October 22 2023
blog Series: 

Editor's Note: This testimony was collected by journalist Ahmad al-Batta in Gaza. 

Hello another world, 

My name is Mohammed Alfarra. I live in the center of Khan Yunis, which is supposed to be the safest part of the Gaza Strip. We live in a building that contains more than thirty families, some of which came from other areas to be safe. Many people who were displaced from Northern Gaza were forced to come here only to encounter more danger, as we have been suffering since the first day of this war. 

At 7:00 am, on Oct. 14, we miraculously survived the bombing of the house next to us. We were sleeping. We woke up startled thinking it was our building that was bombed. We could not see anything because of the smoke and gunpowder. In a panic, we searched for family, children, women, elders. The building next door was destroyed, as we fled ours we noticed a child stuck in his bedroom. We broke the door down to rescue him, and rescued others. We fled the building leaving behind possessions and lost memories. 15 were killed by the Israeli bomb that day, many charred to pieces.

Our children are afriad. Loud noises startle them, not just bombs. We suffered injuries, became displaced. Where are you, world? Where is the humanity you speak of? We are killed in Gaza, unable to live a decent live in our lovely country of Palestine. All we want... is to live with our loved ones in safety.

About The Author: 

Mohammed Alfarra is a resident of Khan Yunis. An Israeli strike destroyed his family's home. 

Ahmad al-Batta is a Palestinian journalist in Gaza. He collected this testimony. 

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