Ayish Younis

Ayish Younis, now 89 years old, is a Palestinian man who has lived through the devastating consequences of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, which forced him and his family from their homeland in the village of Barbara. As a child, he fled to the Gaza Strip, where he has experienced decades of conflict, displacement, and loss. Despite being a former teacher and imam, his life has come full circle as he currently resides in a tent near Khan Younis after the destruction of his family home during the recent war between Israel and Hamas. Ayish's story reflects the enduring struggles and hopes of Palestinian refugees, as he yearns to return to his childhood village, which no longer exists.