Following the destruction that took place in Khalet a-Daba’ a few days earlier, we went to find out how the Palestinians are managing and to bring them food, clothing, blankets, etc., even though Muhammad was abroad. At the initiative of Raya and your assistance, Mustafa, whom you know, met us with a suitable vehicle and Smadar and I went there. Smadar, who is constantly collecting clothing, shoes, blankets, and toys in Lahavim, brought a lot again and thanks to your donations, we were able to buy food and water. So, first of all, we went to Hura and loaded up everything that seemed necessary for the people who are now living outside under the trees and in tents.

We travelled to Khalet a-Daba’ via a-Tuwani, where we arranged to meet with someone who was available to guide Mustafa how to get to our desired destination. We were happy to hear that we would be able to pass and not be stopped by any of the forces of destruction that were there yesterday and the day before yesterday. That one is Nasser Adra’s cousin. We went.

In Khalet a Deba’, the destruction is almost complete. It’s hard to breathe at the sight of the destruction. On the way, in front of us, a vehicle arrives with a team of a medical organization from Ramallah. They were as happy to meet us, as we were. Jaber and his family are walking around. He is a man of extraordinary strength, a leader. When I ask him: “Where did you sleep last night?” he replies with a smile: “I didn’t sleep, I walked back and forth here” and goes to be interviewed and have his picture taken with a Japanese journalist. Smadar and I walked around, shocked, taking pictures (of the destruction) and trying to see how they live now. A group of women under a fairly large tree surrounded by a tarpaulin have set up a kitchen where they sit and prepare food. A little girl, 3.5 years old, in a red dress, emerges from this “house” now, with a plate of food, placing it on the stones and eating. Next to another tent, Jaber’s mother and father sit on mattresses. She prepares food, he stares blankly. She invites me in. “I’m 76,” she says, “My husband is 86, look at us.”

I try to express my sorrow and shame. She smiles and says out loud, “God sees everything” and other words that I didn’t understand, I can only guess. On another mattress sleeps a baby girl and another one sits next to a grandmother. I photographed as much as I could of the destruction and the life that continues there.

Flower gardens and olive trees among the rubble.

Then, in the shade of another tree, sit several young men. Some from here, some from a-Tuwani who came to help. Many folded tents will be opened later.

“We are here and we will not go anywhere else, we have nowhere to go. They will destroy? We will build again, destroy again, we will build again.

We were here long before the settlers and before the police and soldiers who came from Ethiopia and Russia. We are from here”.

“My father who is 86 years old, was born here,” says Jaber.

Not far away, a family sits on a bare floor left over from the remains of furniture next to a tent that has now been erected there.

The woman waves goodbye with a smile, smiling warmly as if everything is normal here. Showing me how they live.

We unpacked all the equipment and food we had brought. We said what we could say and said goodbye.

We will continue to be in touch with them.