STORY: Displaced Gaza residents return home, struggle for a living on ruins
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 29, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 1, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:59
LOCATION: Gaza
CATEGORY: POLITICS/SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Gaza residents living on the ruins in the town of Khuza'a
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): YASSIN AL-GARAH, Gaza resident in Khuza'a
3. various of Gaza residents living on the ruins in the town of Khuza'a

STORYLINE:

Some Gaza residents have returned to their destroyed houses and tried to build a life on the ruins during the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.

In the town of Khuza'a, a family made a fire under the rubble to keep warm. According to the family, they decided to come back as life in the shelters was even more unendurable.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic): YASSIN AL-GARAH, Gaza resident in Khuza'a 
"I am now in my house, which was destroyed by Israel about 20 days before the beginning of the truce.
When the truce began, we were happy to return to our houses. Living in my destroyed home is much better than the shelters because they aren't suitable for living.
The shelters were overcrowded, in very poor condition, and lacked essential services such as water, electricity, and hygiene.
We heard about the spread of scabies and infectious diseases when we were in the shelters. This was a misfortune that could happen to anyone, especially children, in the absence of treatment or hygiene, which is the basis of treating scabies.
I prefer to return to my home because it is the only shelter for me and my children. I prepared this place, which was previously the kitchen because it is the most suitable place to live in now."

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continued on Thursday for the seventh day as more hostages were freed from the Gaza Strip and mediators pressed ahead with the efforts to further extend the fragile truce.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Gaza.
(XHTV)