Homeward bound

Daunting trip

Deir al-Balah is only 18 kilometers from their Jabalia home. But cars, which must wait in line for hours at an Israeli checkpoint, are rare and expensive to hire.

Like most families, the Mohammeds had to walk. For Ismael, the journey was daunting. He is diabetic and lost an arm to his illness before the conflict. Last year his leg was injured in an Israeli airstrike and he can only hobble, leaning heavily on a rough stick while toting a bag on his back.