Gaza has been devastated by extensive bombing and demolitions, erasing entire neighborhoods. Homes have been reduced to rubble, leaving many residents displaced. Nour Alsaqa, a 25-year-old artist and communications officer for Médecins Sans Frontières, reflects on her former life in Gaza City. She recalls her home, which had a room overlooking a garden filled with her art supplies and music drifting from her bedroom. "When I think of my house, it was not very special, but it contained us. (I think about) these collective moments together that we'd spend as a family," she said.

Nour's home was located in Tel al-Hawa, a suburban area known for its tree-lined walkways and Islamic architectural designs. She fondly remembers her neighborhood as calm and beautiful, a stark contrast to its current state.

Following the Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel, the Israeli government declared a complete siege on Gaza. Then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned of severe restrictions, stating, "Gaza won't return to what it was before. We will eliminate everything."

The United Nations special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing has described the destruction in Gaza as "domicide," referring to the systematic destruction of homes. As of now, over 67,100 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with many more believed to be trapped under debris. Both Gallant and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu face accusations of crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court, which Israel has denied.

Nour had aspirations of becoming a filmmaker before the conflict escalated. "It was endless — the possibilities in front of me," she said. Now, her dreams have been reduced to a focus on survival. She acknowledges the harsh realities of life in Gaza, which has been under a blockade for years. "The conditions were not perfect in any sense," she noted.

Despite the challenges, Nour had built a vibrant life in Gaza. However, the ongoing conflict has destroyed much of what she knew. Her neighborhood, once home to tall residential and commercial buildings, now lies in ruins. Schools and cultural centers have also been reduced to shells.

Israel has claimed its military actions target Hamas, but a recent UN report has concluded that these actions amount to genocide. Nour believes the destruction of homes is an attack on dignity. "Homes are a source of dignity, and Israel deliberately knew how to attack our very dignity by destroying our houses," she said.

Nour and her family evacuated their home on October 13, 2023, as Israeli forces prepared to invade Gaza City. They learned of their home’s destruction through satellite images and local news reports.

Currently, Nour and her family are displaced in Al Zawayda, south of Gaza City. "I'm grateful that we have walls around us," she said, acknowledging that many others in Gaza lack shelter.

The ongoing Israeli military operations have rendered large parts of Gaza virtually uninhabitable. A UN Commission of Inquiry report indicates that between October 2023 and April 2025, significant structural damage occurred primarily in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and North Gaza.

As of April, an estimated 37,169 homes in Gaza City have been destroyed. The Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Public Works and Housing reported that 92 percent of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed.

For Nour, the loss is profound. "Every single detail about home is wrapped in cruelty and loss," she said. The destruction of her community has left her feeling isolated. "I miss having my own place, my things, my books I'd written notes in for years, the memories. I miss being able to recognize people in the street."