Rania Sakallah is holding onto happy memories. Shortly before the conflict started, she and her family enjoyed a day out together at Sheikh Ijlin beach in the south of Gaza City, Al Jazeera reports.

They stopped at the Tropical Restaurant to eat chicken pizza. Her twin son and daughter were about to embark on their final year of studies at Al-Azhar University. There was a lot to look forward to.

Now they face the bleakest of starts to 2024. Huddled in a freezing room in the southern border town of Rafah with other family members – 11 people in total – the future resembles a gaping void with the Gaza City home Rania and her husband Hazem had built together possibly reduced to rubble.

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