Ahmad al-Guferi survived the indiscriminate bombing of Israel but lost 103 relatives including his wife and children. When the bombing of Gaza City killed all of Gufferi’s family, he was stranded in the West Bank, 50 miles from home.
Guferi was working on a housing project in Tel Aviv during the October 7 Israel-Gaza war. Due to the outbreak of war, he could no longer return to his family members. He last spoke to his wife Shireen on December 8.
Guferi’s mother, four brothers and their families, dozens of aunts, uncles and cousins were also killed in the bombing. The total death toll is over a hundred. Even after two months, their bodies are still stuck under the rubble.
He said, “Last week, her little girl was supposed to be two years old. Her birthday is supposed to be celebrated, but today her body is being taken out from the rubble. At that time, Guferi could not hold her daughter’s body in her hands, she broke down in tears.
Guferi said, “My daughters are like little birds to me. I still can’t believe what happened to us. I feel like I’m in a daze.’
He said, I came to know from my relatives that the first bomb attack in the city was on my family. Because my house was at the entrance of the city.
“After 10 minutes four of our houses were bombed. Our entire family was burnt by the bomb fire. Our house was destroyed like a green plastic mug crumpled in a fire. The whole place is now completely dusty. Now there is nothing but a layer of dust,” said Guferi
“My grandmother was the oldest member of our family killed in the Israeli attack,” Gufferi said. He was 98 years old. And the youngest member was a newborn baby.
Guferi was so devastated by the news of the death of his family members that he never returned to his hometown. However, he still occasionally calls his surviving relatives in Gaza.
“My dream in Gaza has been shattered,” Gufferi said. Who would I go back for? Who will call me father? Who will call me darling? My wife used to tell me I was her life. Who will tell me now?
