Gazans seek refuge in cemeteries after losing their homes

The ongoing conflict and Israeli attacks in Gaza have forced thousands of people to seek refuge in cemeteries. Their homes have been destroyed or they have no other safe place, forcing them to use the sacred cemeteries for the dead as a last resort for the living. Despite the ceasefire, the humanitarian situation remains dire.

Al Jazeera's Hind Khudari reports from Khan Younis in southern Gaza: "The cemeteries are no longer just for the dead; many families are living here. This is not their choice, it is their only way of survival."

Rami Musleh, a father of 12 who was displaced from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, said: "I have found no other safe place than the cemeteries. Raising my children next to graves is unbearable." Another resident, Sabah Muhammad, added: "The cemeteries that were once sacred to the dead are now silent witnesses to the suffering of the living."

According to the United Nations, about 90 percent of Gaza’s population—at least 1.9 million—has been displaced by the war. Many families are dependent on limited humanitarian aid, with overcrowding in shelters in southern Gaza and the inability to afford to rent land. According to UNRWA, Gaza is home to some 61 million tons of rubble; entire neighborhoods have been destroyed.

Despite a fragile ceasefire in place since October 10, Israel continues to restrict humanitarian access. The International Court of Justice recently ruled that aid must enter Gaza. However, currently, only containers for central and southern Gaza are entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing; the northern border has not yet been opened.

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