Palestinians in Gaza marked the 78th anniversary of the 1948 mass uprooting known as the Nakba, as many say they are living through an even greater catastrophe today. In 1948, about 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes during the war surrounding Israel's creation, and around 530 villages were destroyed. Survivors like 78-year-old Yusuf Abu Hamam recall how their hometowns were erased, with their lands now part of Israeli cities and parks.

Today, after more than two and a half years of war in Gaza, vast areas of the territory lie in ruins. Israel says it now controls about 60 percent of Gaza, and more than 2 million residents are crowded into shrinking areas along the coast. Many families, including Abu Hamam's and that of Ne'man and Majida Abu Jarad, have been displaced repeatedly, their homes demolished and communities flattened.

According to United Nations estimates, around 90 percent of Gaza's population has lost their homes, with many living in tent camps and relying on aid. The war began after the Islamic Resistance Movement launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Since then, more than 72,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health officials.

For many Palestinians, the destruction of homes, towns, and personal records echoes the losses of 1948. Efforts to preserve refugee documents by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency underscore fears that history and legal status could be lost again, as families say little remains of their past beyond memories.