Photo creditFadi Rafiq Assaf, a 35-year-old former businessman, once led a life of normalcy in Gaza. A successful merchant buying and selling clothes, Assaf’s world was shattered in an instant when war broke out between Israel and Hamas. His home, his family, and his future were all reduced to rubble during an Israeli airstrike in December 2023. Now, amid the wreckage of his past life, Assaf is grappling with unimaginable loss and a profound desire to escape Gaza. He longs for peace, stability, and a life far from the violence that has consumed his homeland. But leaving Gaza isn’t just about physical departure—it’s about escaping trauma, grief, and a lost future.
In this post, we’ll explore Assaf’s journey through this unspeakable tragedy and why many, like him, are desperate to leave Gaza behind.
The Tragic Loss of Fadi Assaf’s Family
On December 3, 2023, Assaf’s entire world crumbled in a single moment. An Israeli airstrike targeted his five-story family home in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, leaving nothing but rubble in its wake. The devastation claimed the lives of 54 of Assaf’s closest family members. His wife, his sons, his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins—all gone.
What did Assaf lose?
- His wife and children
- His parents and siblings
- His entire extended family
The human cost was beyond measure. The emotional toll, devastating.
For Assaf, the pain is almost too much to articulate. “I want to get out of Gaza by any means,” he told ABC News.
But this desire to leave isn’t just driven by his losses; it is about escaping a place where survival has become a daily struggle, and peace seems like a distant dream.
Burying His Family with His Own Hands
In the aftermath of the airstrike, Assaf was faced with an unimaginable task—recovering his family’s bodies from the rubble. He spent hours sifting through the debris, pulling out the remains of his loved ones, and burying them in makeshift graves. Assaf buried 24 family members with his bare hands. Thirty others remain entombed beneath the ruins of his once-bustling home.
How did Assaf cope with such loss?
- His brother Shadi, 37, survived but was left paralyzed from the waist down.
- Assaf has since become his primary caregiver.
- Assaf’s teenage son Baraa survived the strike but carries the emotional scars of this tragedy.
Assaf’s world has been turned upside down. He is now the sole caregiver for his disabled brother and his son, living in a donated tent just 300 meters from the wreckage of his home. And yet, the grief lingers, compounded by the haunting thought that his other family members remain buried under the rubble.
A Desire for Peace: Fadi Assaf’s Wish to Leave Gaza
Fadi Assaf’s wish is clear: he wants to escape Gaza. “I want to treat my brother and live with my son in peace,” he says. The violence, the trauma, the daily fear of airstrikes—Assaf has seen it all. His physical survival is no longer enough. He wants peace. He wants to sleep without nightmares. He wants to rebuild his life somewhere far from Gaza.
Why does Assaf want to leave?
- He seeks peace and stability.
- He wants to care for his disabled brother and son without the constant threat of violence.
- He wants to sleep at night, free of fear and anxiety.
In a tragic twist, Assaf has become one of many Gazans looking for a way out. But leaving Gaza is no simple feat. With the borders tightly controlled, opportunities to leave are scarce, especially for those with no financial means or connections to external countries.
The Struggle of Gaza’s Youth: Omar Dogmash’s Story
Fadi Assaf is not alone in his desire to leave Gaza. Omar Dogmash, a 24-year-old law student, has also expressed a profound yearning to escape the “swamp” that Gaza has become. After losing much of his education and future prospects due to the ongoing conflict, Dogmash hopes to immigrate to Canada, where he can rebuild his life and continue his studies.
Omar’s situation mirrors Assaf’s:
- Omar feels Gaza is “no longer a place for life or dreams.”
- He longs for a future that seems unattainable in Gaza.
For Omar, Gaza has become a dead end—a place where the future is uncertain, and survival is the only goal. Like Assaf, he is looking outward, searching for a way to start over in a safer, more stable environment.
Gaza’s Struggle: The Fate of 2.1 Million People
Before the conflict, Gaza was home to 2.1 million people, but today, 90% of them have been displaced by the ongoing violence. The devastation is widespread, with entire neighbourhoods and towns reduced to rubble. For those who remain, like Assaf, the idea of rebuilding seems almost impossible. Many want to stay, to rebuild Gaza and revive the land of their ancestors. But for others, like Assaf and Dogmash, staying means facing an uncertain and painful future.
What does Gaza need?
- A future where people can live in peace and safety.
- Opportunities for young people to rebuild their education and careers.
- Immediate relief for displaced families and a plan for long-term recovery.
While the international community debates the future of Gaza, many Palestinians remain unsure of where they will go or what their future will look like. Some are ready to rebuild, while others, like Assaf, simply want to leave.
Will Gaza Ever Be the Same?
The situation in Gaza remains dire. With over 48,000 deaths and more than 111,000 injuries reported, the human cost of this war is immeasurable. Families like Assaf’s are left picking up the pieces of their shattered lives, but with no clear path forward.
As Assaf poignantly put it: “I have lost myself.” For him and many others, Gaza is a place of grief, trauma, and loss. Whether they choose to rebuild or to leave, the scars of this conflict will stay with them forever.
Conclusion: A New Beginning or an Endless Cycle?
Fadi Rafiq Assaf’s story is one of loss, survival, and a desperate desire to leave Gaza behind. His experience is a stark reminder of the ongoing human cost of the Israeli-Hamas conflict and the broader crisis in Gaza. The decision to leave isn’t just about relocating; it’s about seeking peace, rebuilding a future, and escaping a cycle of violence and trauma.
For Assaf, the question is simple: Can peace ever come to Gaza, or is it time to leave?
Relevant Links for Further Reading
- The Human Cost of the Gaza Conflict
- Why Gaza’s Future is Uncertain
- The Global Impact of Gaza’s Displacement Crisis
- The Struggle for Peace in Gaza
: ABC News
