Displaced, hungry and abandoned - one woman's Gaza odyssey

When Israel ordered more than a million residents to evacuate northern Gaza to the south, Alaa’s family decided not to leave their house, as they were terrified that it would be a second Nakba and they would never be allowed to return.

But relentless bombing eventually forced their hand and they left the area, seeking somewhere safer.

The family first went to the home of Alaa’s grandmother in the middle of Gaza City, but only stayed there for two nights, then left after an adjoining house was destroyed in an attack.

After hours wandering the empty streets of central Gaza, they found a taxi willing to take them to the south, as Israeli warplanes circled above, looking for their next target.

“We waited for many hours. The street was bombed. We were surrounded by massive destruction, dry blood, and relentless bursts of bullets,” said Alaa, who is 28.

Read more: Displaced, hungry and abandoned - one woman's Gaza odyssey