Title: We had dreams. “I had a house, a family. I remember every corner of my house—the living room, the bedroom, the garden. It was my dream to have this house. I was working with my wife to build and to have it like this. Sitting, chatting, laughing, smiling, joking. We could buy whatever we wanted—sweets for the kids, chocolates, vegetables, fruits. We were making plans. We had dreams. Our kids were growing up before our eyes. We were planning for their future.
All of this changed suddenly, on the 7th of October. Drinkable water was not available, food was not available. We went to Rafah, on the coastal side, in what is called the humanitarian zone—[but] it is not a humanitarian zone. It was hell because strikes didn’t stop.
How can I protect my family on a daily basis? I managed to take my family out of Gaza to go to Cairo. Now I’m alone since February. I have moved maybe five times from my place in Rafah. I need to evacuate. I struggle to go to the toilet, the shared toilet, [because it is] busy and I have to wait. I’m far from my family. I feel lonely, mentally tired. I need to reunite with my wife, my daughter, my two boys.
The first thing [I’ll do], when the war stops, I will do my best to go to Cairo in Egypt to meet them. I will try to cross to Gaza City to see my house, if it is still standing or not.

A ceasefire means many things for me, mixed feelings of sadness and happiness at the same time. The first thing I would like to do is go and see my house in northern Gaza, my house with all my memories from the past 24 years. I want to know if it has been demolished or not. I will try to reach my family living outside the Gaza Strip. My wife and my children, I want to be with them again. These are the two most important things.

I miss [my wife and children] so much. I hope to see them as soon as the war is over.

What do I miss most from my previous life? Everything! My memories have almost been erased, memories of the last 24 years in Gaza have mostly faded so all that is left is my family. I hope they are always safe, as they now are, and that God will reunite me with them.

What do I hope for most? [That is] a question that comes to mind repeatedly. I want to hug my wife and children.”

Editor’s note: In September 2025, Dr. Abu Muhaysib left Gaza for Ireland. See the interview with him, which has also been translated as part of this project.