The Abu Teirs thought a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas might mean they could begin to rebuild their lives. But a new wave of Israeli airstrikes has dashed those dreams.
There were times, before Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on March 18 broke a two-month ceasefire, when Huda Abu Tair and her family almost believed that things could return to normal.
After fleeing their home to a displaced persons shelter, then to a tent, another shelter and another camp during 15 months of war – six or seven displacements in all – they returned to their home in Abasan al-Kabira in southeast Gaza, where they lived with Huda's grandparents and uncles.
Back home a few weeks ago, Huda, 19, threw a pizza party for her cousins, said one cousin, Fatma al-Shawwaf, 20. The other girls teased Huda: “Shouldn’t you be studying?” Huda, who was planning to become a nurse, seemed always studying. But Huda laughed and said she liked to have fun, too.
The day before the Israeli airstrikes resumed, Huda asked Uncle Nur, a technology teacher, if he could help her review material for her high school exams. He promised to hold a study session the following evening, he said.
But around midnight, Khuda's brother, 15-year-old Abdullah, heard an explosion. “What was that?” he shouted to his father, who didn't have time to answer before another blast sounded, this time above their heads and under their feet at the same time.
