Tue Dec 23 08:32:49 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Family Clings to Home Amidst Devastation
Gaza City – In the war-torn Gaza Strip, where relentless Israeli air strikes have decimated entire neighborhoods, the Halawa family is a testament to resilience. Their building, miraculously standing two stories above the rubble in Gaza City, bears the scars of the conflict, with a collapsed section and makeshift wooden steps leading to their damaged home.
Despite the precarious living conditions, the Halawas, like many Gazan families, have chosen to return to their damaged residences rather than endure life in overcrowded and often flooded tent shelters. The family of seven abandoned their home three months after the war began in October 2023, but returned during the recent truce.
Life continues amidst the destruction. Amani Halawa brews coffee over an open fire in a damaged room, while thin rays of light filter through concrete fragments. The family has made makeshift repairs with concrete scraps, hanging backpacks from exposed metal rods and arranging pots and pans across the kitchen floor. Painted trees and messages to separated family members adorn the walls.
While a fragile calm exists, reconstruction remains a distant prospect. Israel maintains strict control over the entry of construction materials, hindering efforts to rebuild. Health officials have reported fatalities from building collapses, highlighting the dangers faced by residents living in damaged structures.
Despite the constant threat, families are finding ways to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Sahar Taroush sweeps dust from carpets laid over rubble, while her daughter Bisan watches a movie beside gaping holes in the wall. The Halawa family, and countless others like them, embody the spirit of perseverance in the face of unimaginable loss and hardship, clinging to home amidst the devastation of Gaza City.
First Piper 