This story describes the tragedy of displacement in Gaza through the eyes of a mother and young woman grappling with impossible choices. The central focus is the small displacement bag: what to take (…

This story describes the tragedy of displacement in Gaza through the eyes of a mother and young woman grappling with impossible choices. The central focus is the small displacement bag: what to take (clothes, memories, life’s details) and what must be left behind to anticipated rubble.

Amidst this turmoil, Lana (the mother/young woman) wonders: Will the bag be enough for her son Hamoud’s toys and his bed? How can she survive if she cannot afford the tent, the bathroom, or even transportation? Lana’s questions reflect the agonizing dilemma between two options: a quick death by staying in her home, or a slow death by fleeing into the unknown. The story concludes with a heartbreaking final touch to the cracked walls of the house, a farewell, as she knows she will only return to find destruction.