Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Palestine: The long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza, scheduled to begin at 8:30 am on Sunday, brought hope to many displaced families. But for the al-Qidra family, it turned into a devastating nightmare.
The al-Qidras, displaced multiple times during the 15-month war, packed their belongings and set out for eastern Khan Younis, hoping to return home. Unaware of the delayed ceasefire, their donkey cart was struck by an Israeli airstrike during the final hours of bombardment.
Sixteen-year-old Adly and six-year-old Sama, the eldest and youngest of the al-Qidra children, were killed instantly. Ahmed, their father, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The family’s surviving children recounted the horror, with 12-year-old Yasmin describing how she rescued her sister Aseel before a second missile hit.
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Mother Left Devastated
Hanan al-Qidra, who had stayed behind to organize belongings, was heartbroken upon learning of her family’s fate. She described Sama as the “baby of the family” and Adly as her “pillar of support.” Hanan now faces the immense challenge of rebuilding her life as a widow and caring for her injured children.
“We survived more than a year of war, only to lose everything in its last moments,” Hanan said through tears. “Where was the ceasefire?”
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The ceasefire was delayed by three hours due to a disagreement over the list of Israeli captives to be released. In those final hours, 19 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza’s Civil Defence.
While the ceasefire brought hope to many, families like the al-Qidras remind the world of the human toll of war. For Hanan, the future is uncertain, as she asks, “What’s left?”
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