A mother of three from Gaza shared the harrowing moment she discovered her residence was obliterated by Israeli airstrikes. Alaa Radwan and her family escaped Palestine in 2024 due to continuous nearby bombings. They are now residing in Egypt but have plans to relocate to the UK soon for her to pursue a Master’s degree in London.
Upon receiving a photo of their demolished building from a neighbor, Alaa learned about the destruction of their home. The couple had recently paid off their house just before the tragic events on October 7. Despite the loss, Alaa reminisced about the beauty of their home and the hard work they put into achieving homeownership at a relatively young age.
Following an evacuation order from the Israeli army on her birthday, Alaa and her family sought refuge in Deir Al-balah in the Gaza Strip. They endured the trauma of sleeping together in one room amid the ongoing airstrikes, with Alaa trying to comfort her children by likening the sounds to celebratory fireworks.
After a distressing period of displacement, Alaa received photos confirming the extensive damage to their home. The images depicted a stark contrast to their previous living space, now filled with debris and destruction. Alaa expressed her emotional detachment from material possessions following the loss, emphasizing the impact of the devastation on her outlook.
Subsequently, a close encounter with another bombing incident prompted the family to flee to Egypt, where they had to start afresh. Grappling with the loss of their home and livelihood, Alaa recounted the hardships they faced, including restricted access to food during the crisis.
Despite the challenges, Alaa managed to secure a place at Goldsmith’s University in London for a Master’s program through crowdfunding efforts. The prospect of a fresh start in the UK symbolized hope for a family that had endured significant losses in Gaza. Reflecting on the past, Alaa acknowledged the irreparable changes in Gaza and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild their lives in a new environment.
