Children once played by the ocean. Now Gaza's beaches are a 'sad' place

After 15 months of war, children can still recall the beautiful sight of the Gaza coastline shimmering in the sunlight. They used to excitedly point to the clear blue water, marveling at the light dancing on the surface of the sea. These memories serve as a stark contrast to the devastation they now face.

For 13-year-old Mahmoud Musa, it was once a picturesque and joyful place, like a scene from a holiday brochure, where he often went to play with his friends. Now, however, it has been transformed into a vast expanse of ruins. The vibrant life he knew has been replaced by destruction.

The once-yellow sands are now partially covered in garbage and rubble, and the beachfront homes have been razed to the ground. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 300,000 Palestinians, after 15 months of war, are beginning to return to northern Gaza, making their way along the coastline they once cherished. The scale of displacement and destruction is immense.

Many people are setting up tents on the beach to rest after their long journeys, while others are using the beach as a meeting point to reunite with loved ones they haven't seen since the outbreak of the war. Many returned to find their homes in ruins, forced to seek shelter among the rubble, while others came back to search for missing relatives. The search for normalcy amidst the chaos continues.

Mahmoud and his family were displaced and are currently living in Khan Younis. Upon returning to Rafah, they discovered that their home there had been completely leveled. He recalls the happy times before the war, playing soccer with his friends, his younger brother Amir, and his cousin, saying that "football" is one of the pre-war things he misses the most. The contrast between past joy and present loss is palpable.

The past 15 months have been "very, very, very difficult life" for him and his family. "You move from a house to a tent, it's hot in the summer, cold in the winter, and the rain falls on you," he said. "During a year and a half of war, you also face hunger and death." The constant struggle for survival has taken a heavy toll.

When Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire, Mahmoud felt "full of hope and joy." He posted a video on social media documenting his reaction, in which he and his younger brother Amir and his cousin can be seen jumping up and down with joy. However, Mahmoud's relief was mixed with "tears of joy," as he began to cry shortly after celebrating with the others. The complex emotions reflect the trauma and uncertainty of the situation.

He said that when he heard the news of the ceasefire, he felt hopeful that he could go home, but when they learned that their home was gone, it "soon turned into a devastating blow." In the video he posted to social media, he showed his destroyed home, with the remains of a missile still lying in the ruins of the house. The reality of their loss shattered his initial hope.

The war between Israel and Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. The Gaza Health Ministry says that more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. The conflict has resulted in immense human suffering and widespread destruction.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says that more than 9,000 people have gone missing in Gaza since the start of the war. Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip has become a shell, and the once bustling and rugged city center is no more. Drone footage shows buildings leveled by Israeli bombing, with rubble and torn concrete everywhere, presenting an apocalyptic scene. The devastation is widespread and profound.

According to an analysis released in December by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), two-thirds of Gaza's pre-war buildings – more than 170,000 buildings – have been damaged or leveled, accounting for about 69% of the total number of buildings in the Gaza Strip. This includes a total of 245,123 housing units. A United Nations assessment shows that rebuilding Gaza will require billions of dollars, and Gaza is about half the size of Canberra. The scale of reconstruction needed is enormous.

At a United Nations conference this month, a loss assessment showed that it could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion (A$1.9 billion) to clear the more than 50 million tons of rubble left behind by Israeli bombing. A preliminary assessment by the United Nations Environment Programme is that "debris poses risks to human health and the environment, including contamination from dust, unexploded ordnance, asbestos, industrial and medical waste and other hazardous substances." The environmental and health consequences are severe.

"Human remains buried under the rubble must be handled in a sensitive and appropriate manner," the agency said. The Gaza Civil Defense Agency estimates that 10,000 bodies are missing under the rubble. A United Nations Development Programme official said that Gaza's development has regressed by 69 years due to the conflict. This narrow enclave is home to about 2 million people. The long-term impact of the conflict is devastating.

The United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs estimates that more than 1.8 million people are in need of emergency shelter and basic necessities, and that 1.95 million people are expected to face "high levels of severe food insecurity." The agency also estimates that about 1.4 million people have less than the recommended 6 liters of water per person per day for drinking and cooking, and that 18 of 36 hospitals are "partially functioning." The humanitarian crisis is dire and widespread.

Nermin Ziad, a 21-year-old medical student, works at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, one of the few hospitals that are still functioning. Before the war, she and her family lived in Khan Younis, living what she described as a "stable, safe and peaceful" life. She often recalls sitting in the backyard in the early morning praying and pleading, while listening to the birds singing. These memories provide solace amidst the chaos.

Nermin draws strength from this memory to get through long workdays at the hospital. Like Mahmoud, the beach was also a place for her to relax. "I miss the beach so much, even though we are displaced near the beach, it is full of displaced people in tents." The loss of simple pleasures adds to the overall sense of grief.

"You can't find a quiet place to sit, and going to the beach has become very sad now." After living in a tent for 10 months and moving her family 8 times, she still goes to work at the hospital, doing everything she can to help more people. "We went through very difficult nights. We went through nights where we didn't think we would see tomorrow, sitting in the corner...just waiting for God's mercy [to protect our safety]," she said. The resilience of healthcare workers is remarkable.

When she and her family went back to see their home, they were grateful that the house was still there, but it had no windows or doors and was riddled with bullet holes. She said it was difficult to live there in the winter, but she was grateful to have a roof over her head, which was better than a tent. Due to a shortage of doctors, Nermin has been working as a volunteer doctor for months while completing her studies online. She exemplifies dedication and perseverance.

"I worked in the hospital, spent very difficult days, and saw scenes I had never seen in my life. My heart was broken, but I remained strong so that I could help the sick and the people," she said. But she has not allowed these experiences to break her spirit and hopes to graduate in the near future. "Sometimes I go to the library to download lectures or take exams, and I hope I can successfully complete this path and become a humanitarian doctor to help more people," she said. Her determination to make a difference is inspiring.