In a small apartment in Deir al-Balah, Hanya Aljamal attempts to find solace amidst the chaos of war in Gaza. Once thriving as an English teacher and on a path to further education, the 28-year-old’s life took a drastic turn when conflict erupted in October 2023. With the majority of Gazans displaced and forced into temporary shelters, Hanya now shares her home with her parents and siblings, longing for peace on her balcony, where she often finds comfort observing her elderly neighbor tending to his garden.
The war has stolen Hanya’s identity, leaving her feeling displaced not only from her home but also from her dreams. The school where she once taught has closed, and her aspirations for higher education have faded into uncertainty. She becomes an unwitting witness to a landscape devastated by the ongoing conflict, where the sound of kites flying represents hope amid despair.
Hanya’s diary reveals the psychological toll the war has taken on her and her community. Each day, she faces the reality of aerial drones, sporadic gunfire, and the suffocating weight of loss. The war has claimed the lives of friends, colleagues, and family, which has hindered her ability to grieve properly, an emotional luxury often out of reach in such dire circumstances.
As Gaza prepares for Eid al-Adha amidst shortages and instability, Hanya reflects on the constraints of her existence—her father unable to perform traditional rituals due to lack of resources and her cousin’s tragic death while seeking aid. Yet, even in the darkest moments, she finds ways to connect with the beauty of the sky, seeking refuge in the colors it offers, despite the soot and destruction below.
In her role as an aid worker for Action for Humanity, Hanya encounters the personal stories of young girls grappling with loss and students dealing with their own displacements. Although the war has taken so much from her, including her sense of self, Hanya’s spirit remains unbroken as she continues to provide support to her community, standing as a testament to resilience in a region long plagued by conflict.
Hanya's voice, captured in her audio diary, serves as a reminder of the endurance and hope that can emerge even when it feels as though one's entire world is crumbling. In her observations of life in Gaza, she illustrates a profound juxtaposition of beauty and despair—an indomitable spirit shining through the ruins of war.
The war has stolen Hanya’s identity, leaving her feeling displaced not only from her home but also from her dreams. The school where she once taught has closed, and her aspirations for higher education have faded into uncertainty. She becomes an unwitting witness to a landscape devastated by the ongoing conflict, where the sound of kites flying represents hope amid despair.
Hanya’s diary reveals the psychological toll the war has taken on her and her community. Each day, she faces the reality of aerial drones, sporadic gunfire, and the suffocating weight of loss. The war has claimed the lives of friends, colleagues, and family, which has hindered her ability to grieve properly, an emotional luxury often out of reach in such dire circumstances.
As Gaza prepares for Eid al-Adha amidst shortages and instability, Hanya reflects on the constraints of her existence—her father unable to perform traditional rituals due to lack of resources and her cousin’s tragic death while seeking aid. Yet, even in the darkest moments, she finds ways to connect with the beauty of the sky, seeking refuge in the colors it offers, despite the soot and destruction below.
In her role as an aid worker for Action for Humanity, Hanya encounters the personal stories of young girls grappling with loss and students dealing with their own displacements. Although the war has taken so much from her, including her sense of self, Hanya’s spirit remains unbroken as she continues to provide support to her community, standing as a testament to resilience in a region long plagued by conflict.
Hanya's voice, captured in her audio diary, serves as a reminder of the endurance and hope that can emerge even when it feels as though one's entire world is crumbling. In her observations of life in Gaza, she illustrates a profound juxtaposition of beauty and despair—an indomitable spirit shining through the ruins of war.
