A Star of David graffiti left behind on a door in Gaza. Photo: Donya Abu Sitta

After the withdrawal of the Israeli army, my father and I returned to Khan Younis and faced the destruction of our homes. We saw rooftops pierced by a missile, homes with columns still standing, footprints on stairs leading nowhere.

But the first thing that captured our attention was not the destruction; it was the Hebrew drawings and phrases scribbled on the walls of our homes and throughout the Gaza Strip.

Along with the bombs and missiles that have fallen on Gaza, people have faced psychological warfare since the onset of occupation. Graffiti is a powerful tool for conveying the feelings of individuals and groups towards certain issues.

The Hebrew writings on the houses in the Gaza Strip are the most dangerous and profound tools of war aimed at deepening fear and trauma among people. We wonder if there are hidden messages behind the violent words. I sometimes fear the Israelis have taken control of our minds as well as destroying our homes! Palestinians are prevented from returning home while Israeli soldiers are free to scribble on our homes, which are often demolished before the owners can even see the graffiti.

A threatening slogan, “Judgment Day — Khan Younis” is written near the home of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader. Another slogan, “Instead of erasing walls, let’s erase Gaza.” This is a frank statement of Israel’s genocidal intentions to kill all Palestinians. Yoav Gallant, who served as Minister of Defense from 2022-2024, declared, “We are fighting against human animals.” This unconscionable insult was directed to a people who only want the right to live on their land.

One of the most terrifying phrases is “We are all Goldstein.” Baruch Goldstein was an American settler from New York who entered the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in 1994 and killed 29 Palestinians while they were praying.

Hebrew graffiti in red (middle of photo): “We are all Goldstein.” Graffiti in black: “Vacant buildings in Khan Younis.” Photo and translation by Donya Abu Sitta

Another phrase, “Boots, finish your work in Khan Younis to the fullest.”  This message is intended to encourage soldiers to finish the mission to destroy all of Khan Younis. These threats evoke painful and violent memories.

Hebrew graffiti: “Boots, finish your work in Khan Younis to the fullest.” Photo and translation by Donya Abu Sitta

Amira’s house in the Al-Amal neighborhood is in the center of Khan Younis. She is a mother with two young children. When she returned home with her family, they found a message written with lipstick on their bathroom mirror. The soldier wrote, “This lipstick color is very nice. Why didn’t you take it with you during the displacement?”

In another corner of the wall was written, “I miss you, my love, and will return to your embrace.” Another message: “To my beloved, I am now in Khan Younis.” Another message: “Shay, Rajab, and Neer will never be forgotten. Their memory is for mercy.” Israeli soldiers memorialize friends who were killed in Gaza, by writing their names on bombed homes.

“Happy 19th birthday, Hanna, from Angel Man in Khan Younis.” While we were dying, losing loved ones, living in tents insufficient to keep out the cold, and suffering terribly, the soldiers celebrated birthdays of family members by writing the names of family and friends on our homes which they had broken into. They stole personal belongings, sometimes set sofas or entire homes on fire, and unimaginably smeared feces on the walls and furniture. Why do soldiers express their feelings of love and friendship while stating their geographical location? The occupiers roamed the city as if they already owned it, as if victory was already theirs. We are ridiculed and mocked because we were forced to leave our homes upon orders from the Israeli military.

Hebrew graffiti: “Dad, I love you.” Photo and translation by Donya Abu Sitta

Children are afraid when passing a house with Hebrew writing because they feel the area might be booby-trapped or contain explosives. When I walk with my kindergarten students through streets filled with Hebrew writing, the children ask, “What did the Israelis write here?“

Defeated and confused, we search for the meaning of the graffiti. I took pictures of the Hebrew scribbling but needed help translating them. My friend’s aunt from eastern Khan Younis found Hebrew writing everywhere in their home. The family preferred to live in a tent in the Mawasi neighborhood because they could not bear to live in a house painted with these phrases. This turned out to be a fortunate decision, because their home was subsequently completely bombed. Those who can, paint the walls of their house to get rid of the scent of Israeli soldiers that lingers in those phrases.

Graffiti is not just words painted on a building. It is a powerful tool for conveying messages of murder, violence, mockery, unending persecution and humiliation.  Most of us suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. We fear being targeted. We feel helpless not knowing when the next attack will come. Graffiti has an extraordinary ability to trigger fear and influence society.