He Escaped Death, But Dreams of Returning to Gaza

At 19, Yousef lives between two worlds: the haunting images of violence against his homeland, Palestine, by the state of Israel—and the challenges of building a new life in Cairo.

He turned 18 on February 13, 2024, in Rafah, where he and his family were forced to flee, leaving their home in Gaza City behind. He carried with him just one wish: a ceasefire.

Even under relentless Israeli airstrikes, like many other children, Yousef continued his online classes—struggling with an unstable internet connection. Determined to do well, he hoped to attend university in Egypt, aiming for dental school. Despite the odds, he was accepted to study engineering.

Now he lives in a small apartment near his university in Giza Governorate. The long distances and heavy traffic make it hard to see his family, who live in central Cairo. For the first time, Yousef finds himself away from them every day, trying to adjust to a new home that still feels foreign.

“Yousef, what did you take with you when you left Gaza?”

“Just a can of chickpeas — to remind me I survived the war with this. I’ll never open it, but I’ll keep it as a reminder of the hard times.”

Just weeks after arriving in Cairo, Yousef lost his best friend, Ali. He found out through social media. “I cry for my friend when I’m alone,” he says. He stays in touch with friends still in Gaza — whenever the internet allows. He carries deep guilt for being safe in Egypt, and says he would rather return to Gaza, even knowing the risks.

Back home, Yousef’s house was bombed. So was his grandparents’ home. So was the shelter in Rafah. His gym, his favorite beach hangout, his favorite café — all destroyed. He dreams of one day returning to Gaza to rebuild his home.

In Cairo, Yousef is under constant stress — academic pressure, language barriers with Egyptian Arabic, racism, financial insecurity, and a deep sense of displacement. Egypt is the only place outside Gaza he has ever been, and it’s where he’s received the most painful news of his life.

In November 2024, his phone was stolen twice. The first time, he lost every photo he had taken during the war. The second time, he lost a crucial tool for his studies. His laptop remains in Gaza.

Emotionally shattered, Yousef talks about Gaza constantly. Scrolling through social media, he sees video after video of death and destruction in his homeland. “I want to go back to Gaza, even if it means dying.”

Photographer Olga Stefatou first met Yousef in August 2020, when he was just 14, during an online photography workshop for teens in Gaza. Some of the photos he created at that time are included in this piece.

They reunited in November 2024, after Yousef safely reached Cairo. The photos, notes, and collages they created together reveal the emotional weight and the marks of war Yousef still carries with him.

*Olga Stefatou is a photographer, educator, and visual storytelling consultant based in Athens. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she has collaborated with global media and cultural organizations.