00:00This used to be a neighbourhood where people lived, Tal el-Zultan in Rafah, southern Gaza,
00:07near the border with Egypt.
00:10Ali Fesaifas and his family were displaced four times during the war.
00:15After the ceasefire came into force on Sunday, he wasted no time in returning to see what
00:20was left of his home.
00:26I was in such a hurry to see my house, it was all I could think about.
00:30I just wanted to get there, whatever it took, just to see it.
00:34But when I saw it, I was shocked.
00:36I stood there for more than an hour, unable to move, paralysed by disbelief.
00:43It was one of the hardest days of our lives, I swear to God, seeing that scene.
00:48I never expected this.
00:49I never expected to see such devastation.
00:55We thought there might be damage, but not like this.
01:02All the local infrastructure is gone, and it's unclear if or when Israel and Egypt will
01:08allow building materials into Gaza.
01:10Fesaifas says he has no idea how to rebuild his house.
01:15And without work and income, it's even harder.
01:22If I were to rebuild this place with my own money, it might take me 60 or 70 years, maybe
01:2880 even.
01:29I'm 45 years old.
01:31How am I going to rebuild?
01:36In the meantime, people here are hoping for help that hasn't yet arrived.
01:41They're now saying they'll bring caravans for us to live in.
01:44We'll do whatever, but I want to stay near my house.
01:48But one major concern remains, that the temporary ceasefire might not hold.
01:55I pray to God that the truce continues.
01:58There's nothing left for them to destroy anyway.
02:01God willing, I hope the truce holds.
02:06And while Palestinians like Ali Fesaifas in southern Gaza have been able to return home,
02:13hundreds of thousands of others are still waiting for permission to return to northern Gaza.
Comments