Living Among the Dead: Gaza Families Find Shelter in Cemeteries

In the war-torn city of Khan Younis, Gaza, cemeteries have become unexpected sanctuaries for approximately 30 Palestinian families seeking refuge. Among these families is Maisa Brikah, who, with her children, has made a cemetery home for five difficult months due to the destruction of their own house.

Displaced by the prolonged conflict between Hamas and Israel, these families live among graves, navigating a life fraught with fear, disrespect, and lack of shelter. Despite the recent ceasefire, many like Mohammed Shmah, who lost his home, find little change or comfort, remaining entrenched in their grim living conditions.

The graveyards, marked with cooking fires, children playing, and essential tasks like water fetching, reflect a fragile coexistence with death. As hostilities continue, the specter of violence lingers, making recovery and return seem distant, while families struggle in their somber homes among the departed.