Hamada went back to Gaza in June 2023.
There, he found his children again — the ones he hadn’t been able to see for seven years — as well as his whole family. He has his fathers, four sisters and one brother living in Gaza.
One beloved younger brother — the youngest — tragically died before his eyes in 2014, a victim of an Israeli bombing. The summer of 2023 was spent sharing meals, going on trips to the seaside, celebrating with family, and above all, enjoying long-lost time with Yamin, Line and Reem.
Hamada took the chance to repaint the whole floor of the large family house, where he was living with them. A few months later… the entire house would be reduced to rubble.
Despite the joy of reuniting with his children, life in Gaza was far from idyllic. Going back to the everyday reality of his people — living under the constant pressure of occupation — had already taken a psychological toll on him.
When I was in touch with him, he was often in the dark due to the electricity cuts imposed by the occupiers.
The last photo was taken on October 2, 2023, at one of his nieces’ graduation ceremony. A few days later, history would take an irreversible turn.
“Written by Fabienne”