Like many Palestinians driven from their Gaza homes into a 5-month ordeal of hunger and terrorization, Muhammad and his family (above, Muhammad, wife Ghada, son “JoJo” and 2-year-old twins Lina and Dina) decided to leave the horrors of Rafah for their original home in Deir al Balah (above left).
In two days they walked a 13-km. gauntlet of bullets and total uncertainty, finding “moderate” damage to their home and almost 200 neighbors killed in the fighting there. Now they try to resume the “normal” struggle for life in conditions worse than before this war—scarce food and water, no electricity, no medicines—but, like thousands of Palestinians making the same choice, they are at least HOME and mean to live each day together, whatever comes next.
Here begins a new page of Muhammad’s messages:
MARCH 13, 2024—
“Hello, dear brother. 
I am sorry for the delay since my last message, but our situation was terrible in the last two days. Israeli tanks advanced suddenly into our Balah surroundings, bombarded some houses, and then withdrew back inside Israel. Now it is calmer and the situation is better. We are well, and the children feel better than they did during our days in a tent in Rafah. If you would like to make a new program with Zoom, I am totally ready. Please convey our greetings to Angie—we love you all, dear brother 
.”
MARCH 19: “We will live or die together, in our home”
MARCH 25—
“Good evening, dear brother. We hope you and Angie are in good health. I am sorry for the delay of my messages, for we had an internet problem [here in Deir al Balah] over several days. Today they fixed the problem, although internet speed is very very slow. I am eager for making a new program, but let us wait some days until the speed becomes better. We are well, day by day, and thinking of you and Angie many times. The food we manage to find is not much of a reward for people who are fasting 15 hours each day of Ramadan. In the coming days I will photograph one of our meals. We still fight courageously against anemia, and I can see that we are achieving good progress
. We are well, dear brother, and sending our LOVE and kisses to you and Angie 
.”
MARCH 31—
“Hello, dear brother. We are as well as possible, enjoying a few warm and sunny days. The children are well also. Recently I managed to find and buy a good amount of protein, as I bought 12 cans of Moroccan sardines (of course labeled NOT FOR SALE). So we are doing our best in the fierce battle against anemia.
“I am so sad for the destruction of my publisher’s office and store. Israeli tanks have shelled Al Kalimah publishing house, the publisher of three out of my five books, including the recent one Fedayee & The Sea. In this destruction I lost hundreds of copies of my books, and this is a big psychological and economical loss for me. As you see, brother, our books have become ashes, alas.”
APRIL 11—
“Hello, dear brother and sister. Our poor internet has prevented me from writing all these recent days. Last night we got almost no sleep: it was a noisy night, as Israeli tanks conducted a big penetration into eastern Deir Al Balah, not far at all from our home. The entire sky was crimson and the air was burning—we are lucky that white phosphorus wasn’t used this time.
“We hope that you and Angie and our sister Vicky of Sitia are well, happy, and in good health. Today [the final day of Ramadan, called Eid] is supposed to be a holiday and religious festival. But we spent the day weeping our losses, for our murdered loved ones who have become martyrs. It was a bitter day.”
APRIL 12—
“Hello, dear brother. The Israelis’ murder rate has been accelerating in recent days: 153 Palestinians were killed on the day before yesterday, and 122 more were murdered yesterday. It seems that any ceasefire is looking really like an illusion and mirage! Today, meanwhile, our good friend and brother Tawfiq [whose entire family has been murdered in Israeli attacks] has phoned me, and when I conveyed your encouraging words to him, he responded with tears. I am happy that we will try making a new program on Saturday. Tell Angie that Ghada, the children and I are looking forward to seeing her on Zoom this weekend. We love you so much! 
“
CLICK BELOW FOR OUR NEWEST PAGE & PROGRAM:
“HAMAS & ISRAEL: FOR PALESTINIANS,
TWO ROADS TO NOWHERE“
jackdempseywriter 
Pingback: ‘FROM RAFAH—PLACE OF DECISION’ | jackdempseywriter