From the YNet article "Testimony from Gaza: Will take decades to rebuild"-
Abu-Dakka said that up until now his 70-year-old father has refused to leave his home, despite its proximity to the border fence with Israel and the IDF troops.
"Today, when the shells began sounding closer and the soldiers entered our territory; even my father realized there is no choice. Those that stayed here from a population of thousands have given up their lives and can even be counted on two hands. We've been set back dozens of year. It will take years upon years to rebuild all that was destroyed," Abu-Dakka said.
According to Abu-Dakka, who is now staying at his relatives' home in Khan Younis, UNRWA schools accept whoever they can, but after the shelling of the UN school in Jabaliya five days ago, many have stopped turning to the UN.
People are forced to ask for shelter with families they don't even know. "The sight of a hundred residents in an apartment is not a rare sight. Luckily, the residents understand the situation and the hosts are incredibly hospitable and patient. Without the help and the mutual support, things would be much worse.
Al Jazeera has just reported that the latest estimates put the number of Palestinians internally displaced by the Israeli assault at 80,000.
