This story at a glance…

1. One year after Israel launched a military offensive, Gaza lies in ruins, with homes, farms, and cultural landmarks reduced to rubble.

2. Tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed, and nearly all have been displaced, many multiple times over.

3. Beloved sites like Khan Younis's Citadel Square and Al-Omari Mosque are destroyed, leaving communities heartbroken and longing for a lost past.

4. Despite the devastation, Gazans hold on to hope, wondering if and how they can ever rebuild what’s been lost. 

Gaza in Ruins: A Year of War

One year ago, the Gaza Strip turned into a battleground as Israel launched a fierce military campaign to eliminate Hamas. The result has been catastrophic for Gaza and its people. The once-thriving enclave, home to two million people, now bears scars that go beyond physical damage. The war has left tens of thousands dead and displaced almost everyone who lived there, many multiple times over. With nearly 60 percent of Gaza's buildings damaged or destroyed, entire neighborhoods now exist only in memories.

The Loss of Heritage and Belonging
In southern Gaza, the Khan Younis governorate has felt this devastation profoundly. This area was once a hub of cultural life and community, where families gathered to shop, pray, and celebrate. Today, it is a shell of its former self. The historic citadel wall that has withstood centuries of history now overlooks a desolate wasteland.

For many, places like Citadel Square were not just physical spaces but threads that wove the community together. One local oud player, known as Abu Kayan, remembers playing music there during the Eid holidays. Now, the square lies empty, filled only with the echoes of lives that once intersected. "I don’t think this place could be rebuilt," he laments, reflecting on the friends who have been killed or forced to flee.

The Grand Mosque of Khan Younis, a 96-year-old building that stood as a symbol of community and faith, is now reduced to rubble. It had been a gathering place for prayer and celebration, a place that represented stability. Belal Barbakh, who once volunteered to maintain the mosque, now performs his ritual of cleaning and perfuming in a makeshift prayer tent near the ruins.

A Childhood  Lost
The destruction in Gaza extends beyond historical landmarks to the everyday spaces that held precious memories. Sisters Asan and Elan al-Farra remember visiting Hamada Ice Cream shop and Citadel of Toys in Khan Younis as young children. These once-colorful places have been shattered, leaving behind ruins that speak of lost innocence and childhood joy. “It’s depressing seeing a place that was so bright end up black, battered, and dirty,” said Elan, describing the pain of watching her childhood haunt become unrecognizable.

A Farmer’s Dream Torn Away
Jamal Subuh, a farmer from the Khuza’a region, spent his life nurturing the land that fed not only his family but also countless others. Today, he and his children can only view the barren remains of their farmland from afar. Nearly 68 percent of Gaza’s farmland has been destroyed, wiping out fields and crushing crops. Subuh, who had hoped to leave his children with a legacy, now relies on humanitarian aid. Yet his daughter, Dina, refuses to give up hope, vowing to rebuild their life on the land that is as much a part of her as she is of it.

The Disappearance of a Cultural Heart
In Gaza City, the Al-Omari Mosque has been shattered, a spiritual and historical anchor for thousands of years. Al-Omari’s unique architecture connected Gazans to their heritage, blending remnants of a Roman temple, a Byzantine church, and a mosque. Now, what remains are ruins—a haunting reminder of Gaza’s cultural identity under threat.

The bustling Gold Market, once filled with the laughter and excitement of young couples shopping for wedding jewelry, lies empty. The market’s closure symbolizes not only economic loss but also the interruption of long-held cultural traditions.

Al-Rimal and Jabaliya: Symbols of Resistance, Symbols of Loss
The neighborhood of Al-Rimal, once a vibrant center of commerce and leisure, was among the first targets of Israeli airstrikes. The Unknown Soldier Park, a place for community gatherings and celebrations, has been destroyed. The Palestine Bank tower and the Rashaad Shawa center, home to Gaza’s oldest library, are now little more than hollow shells.

In Jabaliya, a town with a legacy of resistance, the destruction has hit hard. From the historic protests of the First Intifada to recent demonstrations against Hamas, Jabaliya has been a symbol of the Palestinian spirit. Now, it is a landscape of rubble, and the heart of the town, Al-Trans, is a shadow of what it once was. Long-time residents say that the erasure of these landmarks feels like the erasure of their identity, echoing the collective trauma of generations.

Reflection
As we hear the stories of those who have lost everything, it calls to mind Jesus' words in Matthew 5:4: "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We, too, are called to be comforters, to extend our compassion to those who suffer, and to stand as witnesses to their stories. Even in the rubble, there is hope—for as long as we remember, pray, and lend a hand, the light of God’s love can bring restoration even where there seems to be only ruin.