Recently, I’ve read and heard media claiming that people in Gaza City “refuse to evacuate.” This language profoundly misrepresents the reality on the ground. It erases the impossible choices families face, and shifts blame from the aggressor onto the civilians trapped under its power.

My father’s best friend in Gaza explained it to us plainly: displacement for his family would be a death sentence. They did the math. Moving from Western Gaza City to the south would cost approximately 500 JOD (approximately 700 USD). Once there, they would need at least two tents for the ten people: parents, their children, and grandchildren. Each tent costs 500 JOD (≈700 USD). The total comes to 1,500 JOD (approximately 2,115 USD).

That is more than they could ever afford. Most families can barely cover their basic needs of food, water, or medicine, let alone thousands of dollars for a forced displacement with no guarantee of shelter or safety.

He told us: “We prefer to die than to be displaced. We are waiting for our destiny, whatever that looks like.”

My cousin shared something similar. She said their house no longer has windows or doors, but at least it still has a ceiling. For her, that fragile ceiling is safer than the streets, where displaced families live in the open air. People try to help one another, but everything is overwhelming; too many people, too little space, and conditions spiraling out of control.

This is why the idea that people “refuse to leave” is not just inaccurate, it is cruel. The truth is:
Families have nowhere to go.
They cannot afford to move.
And even if they did, they would find themselves in overcrowded streets, not in safety.

The narrative of “refusal” serves to shift blame away from those with the weapons and power, and onto those already stripped of safety, dignity, and agency. People are trapped in an impossible situation, making the only choice they can: holding onto the last remnants of home and dignity.