When the fighting in Gaza paused last Sunday, Islam Dahliz and his family rushed back to their neighborhood in Rafah. They were desperate to see their home, a place they had been forced to abandon months earlier. But what they found left them stunned.

The streets they once knew were unrecognizable. Entire blocks had been leveled, leaving behind only debris and dust. It wasn’t until Mr. Dahliz spotted what remained of the local wedding hall that they realized they’d already passed their house. What was once their family home was now just a pile of broken concrete and memories.

“It took us a few minutes to accept that this pile of rubble was our home,” said Mr. Dahliz, 34, who works with local aid groups. The shock was overwhelming. His 74-year-old father, Abed Dahliz, who had built the house more than 50 years ago, could barely stand. “I was shocked when I saw my entire life—everything I worked for—flattened to the ground,” he said, his voice shaking.

For months, the family had been living in tents, moving from place to place, clinging to the hope of returning home. But instead of a fresh start, they were met with a painful reminder of what they’ve lost.

This story is just one of many in Gaza, where countless families face similar heartbreak. The conflict has left deep scars, both on the land and its people, and the road to recovery remains long and uncertain.