In the Qarara district east of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, brothers Muhammad and Ibrahim Hamidi sought refuge from relentless shelling. They relocated their families to the Mawasi area, previously deemed a “safe zone.” Setting up tents, they hoped for safety.​

During the night, Muhammad was startled by explosions. Rushing out, he discovered his brother’s tent engulfed in flames. Ibrahim lay bleeding; his wife, Rasha Abu Hindi, cradled their infant son, both consumed by fire. Their three-year-old nephew witnessed this horror, helpless. Tragically, Rasha was pregnant, and all three perished. Ibrahim and his daughter, Ajnad, suffered severe injuries, their survival uncertain. Muhammad emphasized their non-political affiliation, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the violence.​

The abrupt end of the ceasefire led to Israeli airstrikes, killing over 400 Palestinians, including 173 children and 88 women, marking one of the conflict’s deadliest days. Entire families, like the Qreiqehs and al-Hattabs, were annihilated in their homes. Survivors, surrounded by the bodies of loved ones, decried the devastation. Civil Defense teams, lacking proper equipment, struggled to retrieve bodies from the rubble, with thousands remaining trapped

The humanitarian crisis deepened as Israeli forces advanced, destroying Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital. This act intensified international condemnation, with Turkey, a key supporter of the hospital, expressing outrage. The destruction of medical facilities exacerbated the dire situation for critically ill patients.

The resumption of hostilities shattered nearly two months of relative calm, plunging Gaza back into chaos. The civilian toll underscores the conflict’s brutality, with families decimated and essential infrastructure obliterated.