We are in the North of Gaza near the sea. The three of us were terrified in that complex we fled to from our flat. We didnt know it was going to be a story where displacement starts. I hardly slept because of the sound of heavy bombs so I have hidden under a table. Because I felt scared of the bombs. Mohammed was telling my mum about the operation and how unprecedented it was and I overheard that part and got extremely terrified.

I started panicking and asking my mum to take me to the border to flee the violent bombing as my medication was running out and I felt so scared for my safety. Then we sat down as family and we had to make the most difficult decision of our lives which was deciding who leaves and who stays at faces the risk of the assault. So finally after so much deliberation we decided that I leave with my mum and mohammed stays with my dad. Choosing between keeping comfort next to my family during escalation and leaving to a place of safety due to my medication running out was the hardest decision I have had to take in my life.

We said good bye to Mohammed and he has promised me he’d come back safe and sound after he has supported our father. It was our last day of seeing my home gaza as it once was.