In Gaza cemeteries, some displaced Palestinians live among the dead

In Gaza Cemeteries, Some Displaced Palestinians Live Among the Dead

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — For some Palestinians displaced by the conflict, cemeteries have become their only refuge. Gravestones serve as seats and tables for families like Maisa Brikah's, who has sheltered with her children in a dusty, sun-baked cemetery in southern Khan Younis for five months. Around 30 families reside here.

A blonde-haired toddler sits outside one tent, fingers sifting through sand, while another child peers playfully from behind a fabric drape. "When the sun goes down, the children get scared and don’t want to go out. I have four small children," Brikah shared. "They fear going outside because of the dogs at night and the dead."

The conflict between Hamas and Israel over the past two years has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population of over 2 million people. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, some have returned to the remains of their homes, while others remain crowded in areas not controlled by Israeli forces.

In these cemeteries, life continues amid the graves. A child pushes a water jug on a wheelchair past tombstones as smoke rises from a nearby cooking fire. One of Brikah’s closest neighbors is Ahmad Abu Said, who died in 1991 at 18, his tombstone engraved with Quranic verses.

"There is unease, a feeling of disrespect, at setting up camp here," Brikah said. Her family’s home elsewhere in Khan Younis was destroyed.

Despite the grim surroundings, displaced families find shelter and resilience amid the stones.

Author’s summary: Displaced by war, some Palestinians in Gaza have sought refuge in cemeteries, living among graves while coping with fear and loss in the ongoing conflict.

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The Columbian The Columbian — 2025-11-07

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