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Gaza before The Bombs fell!

When most people hear the word Gaza, they picture rubble, smoke, and sorrow. But long before the war headlines dominated the news, Gaza was a land teeming with culture, resilience, and breathtaking beauty, a side of the strip rarely shown to the world.

The Gaza You Don’t See on the News

Stretching just 41 kilometers long and 6 to 12 kilometers wide, Gaza was home to over 2 million people, most of whom were under the age of 25. Despite blockades and hardship, life didn’t just exist there, it thrived. Families gathered on warm Mediterranean beaches. Children played football in sandy alleyways. Markets bustled with the smells of cardamom coffee, fresh falafel, and the sizzling of shawarma.

A Place of History and Heritage

Gaza’s story dates back thousands of years. It was once a vital stop on the ancient trade routes, home to Canaanites, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Ottomans. The city’s ancient port, now mostly forgotten, once connected traders and travelers from across the Mediterranean.

Old city streets whispered with history. Mosques dating back to the 13th century stood tall, while artisans sold handwoven rugs, intricate embroidery, and handmade olive oil soap, crafts passed down through generations.

The Beat of Creativity and Hope

Beneath the weight of occupation and struggle, Gaza's youth turned to creativity as both refuge and rebellion. Underground rap scenes echoed with the voices of frustration and hope. Street murals exploded with color, telling stories of resistance, love, and dreams. Photographers, filmmakers, and poets created work so powerful, it reached audiences across the globe often on little more than borrowed phones and broken laptops.

The Sea Gaza’s Breathing Room

Ask any Gazan what gives them peace, and many will point west toward the sea. Gaza’s coastline was more than just a place to swim. It was an escape, a horizon that promised something beyond the barbed wire. Fishermen set sail at dawn, their painted boats dotting the water like specks of resistance. Couples walked the corniche at sunset, the golden light casting a glow on a city that refused to die.

A Life Interrupted

Then, the war came. Again.

Buildings crumbled. Dreams were buried under dust and debris. The laughter that once echoed through school courtyards was replaced by the sounds of drones, sirens, and weeping. But to understand Gaza today, you must remember Gaza before. A place full of life. A place worth mourning and remembering.

TL;DR

Gaza was not born a warzone. Right now it is not just a statistic. It was, and still is, a home. A cradle of history, creativity, and human spirit. The people of Gaza are not faceless victims, theylived a normal life just like you and me, some were; teachers, dancers, doctors, bakers, students, and poets. Their stories matter. Their lives mattered before the bombs and they still do now.

So the next time you hear about Gaza, remember this: before the war, there was music. There was joy. There was love.

And there still can be.

 If this story moved you, share it. Gaza deserves to be seen for what it truly was and would be again.

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