Khader Junaid and his seven children are currently seeking refuge under the wreckage of Gaza's once-celebrated "Rashad al-Shawa" cultural centre. The family took sanctuary at the centre, which is now only wreckage, after being forced to evacuate northern Gaza due to Israeli bombings. "We didn’t bring blankets or clothes, just our souls," Junaid says, describing their battle to survive in a once-vibrant place.

The cultural center, once a beacon of art and intellectual activity in Gaza, is now a tragic symbol of destruction. The theater and exhibition halls that once hosted lively performances have become makeshift shelters. Junaid stays awake at night, fearing for his children’s safety in the freezing cold, as the place offers little protection from the harsh realities outside.

Fatima al-Sayyid, an elderly woman displaced by the same violence, also resides in the ruins of the center. She recalls fleeing from northern Gaza with nothing but her life, and now, in the center's decaying walls, she describes the conditions as unfit for even animals. Despite her suffering, she hopes for an end to the war and a return to safety.

The "Rashad al-Shawa" center, founded in 1988, was once a cultural hub for Gaza’s intellectuals and artists. Today, it lies in ruins, serving as a temporary shelter for displaced families. Its transformation from a cultural landmark to a refuge for the suffering highlights the broader devastation faced by Gaza’s people, whose homes, lives, and heritage continue to be targeted.