By Saleh Salem and Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) – Keeping three dogs whereas residing in a tent on a seaside in Gaza complicates an already tough state of affairs, however the smile on teenager Hassan Abu Saman’s face when he pets the animals exhibits that it is well worth the bother for him.
A passionate canine lover since childhood, he had 16 of them earlier than the Israel-Hamas struggle that has devastated the Gaza Strip, however managed to take simply three of them, Mofaz, Lucy and Dahab, when he fled his home in Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.
“When issues settled, I used to be capable of safe a automobile to go and get the remainder, however once I received again, I didn’t discover any of them, they have been misplaced. I went again a second time to search for them and located the home bombed,” mentioned Abu Saman, 17.
He is without doubt one of the estimated 1.5 million Palestinians crammed into Rafah in southern Gaza, near the boundary with Egypt, to flee from Israel’s navy onslaught — though Israel has mentioned it was planning a floor offensive there too.
Abu Saman resides in a sprawling tent camp in a seaside space on the oustkirts of Rafah, together with members of the family and the three dogs, who comply with him in all places he goes. They are in style with camp kids who take turns stroking them.
Abu Saman referred to the dogs as “my mates from one other variety” and spoke about them as he would about folks.
“He has been feeling so down due to the struggle,” he mentioned of Mofaz, the biggest of the three.
Finding sufficient meals was an issue for dogs in addition to people, and Abu Saman mentioned Lucy and Dahab had misplaced weight as a result of they normally ate a particular sort of pet food that was now not available.
The future was unsure for {the teenager}, his household and his beloved pets.
“If we have been to return, the home is flattened. He doesn’t have a home or something,” he mentioned, referring to Mofaz, who he was stroking whereas speaking.
The struggle was triggered by Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 folks and taking 253 hostage, in keeping with Israel.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has responded with an air and floor assault on Gaza that has killed greater than 29,000 folks, in keeping with native well being officers. It has additionally displaced many of the inhabitants of two.3 million, precipitated widespread starvation and decreased a lot of the territory to rubble.
(Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
