Gaza People Vow: “We Will Eat Grass, But We Won’t Leave Gaza”
Gaza, 21 August – (PIC): During Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, one of the most painful realities is the repeated forced displacement of Palestinians. Families have been uprooted multiple times — some more than 20 times — losing their homes and belongings again and again.
For most, displacement means leaving behind everything and running only with their lives. Some are lucky to find a tent, while many others flee under bombing with nothing — no clothes, no bedding, no supplies.
Gaza, once home to more than two million people and among the most crowded places in the world, now has only about 15% of its land left for residents after the devastation of the 2023 war. Entire neighborhoods have been flattened, and people pushed westward, while Israel continues to threaten new military operations that could erase what remains.
But this time, many Gazans are refusing to leave. They say they would rather face death than displacement again. People believe leaving Gaza means losing their land forever — something worse than death itself.
“We Learned That Leaving Costs the Most”
Abu Ahmed, a 40-year-old teacher and father of five, was displaced to Deir al-Balah in December 2023 and returned to Gaza after a temporary ceasefire. He says his children and wife cannot even hear the word “displacement” anymore.
“We learned that leaving is the most expensive price. Staying on our land, even under bombs, is better. If we leave this time, Gaza will be lost forever,” he said.
“We Ate Grass, But We Didn’t Leave”
Abu Bilal, a 70-year-old retired government worker from eastern Gaza, also refused to leave. He and his wife lived through months of siege and famine.
“We had nothing to eat. We survived on grass and animal fodder. But we stayed. That is why Gaza still stands. If we leave, we will never see Gaza again. That is the real death,” he said.
Despite months of bombings, massacres, and famine, Israel’s displacement plan has largely failed because many Gazans stayed put. Yet uncertainty remains: as new threats loom, will they be able to save Gaza once again?
