Khaled Arqoub was shocked when he saw that his home had been flattened.
It and the buildings next door were destroyed after Israeli troops entered Khan Younis city in tanks.
“I have lost everything,” Arquob said.
When Israel began its ground invasion, Arquob left his home for al-Mawasi, an area in southern Gaza. He only came back to Khan Younis after the Israeli forces withdrew a few days ago.
“As I walked into the city, the destruction I saw was enormous,” he said. “Nothing had been left intact.”
His return coincided with Eid al-Fitr. While Eid should be a festive occasion, it has proven to be a harrowing time for the people of Khan Younis and other parts of Gaza.
“The city has become gray and everything colorful has disappeared,” Arquob said.
“It is not a fit place to live in. But we will come back. I will set up a tent on the rubble of my house.”
He noted that the local authorities are already seeking to open the city’s streets and restore the water supply. “We want the city to come back to life,” he added. …more
