Dozens of homeless Gazans at Rafah Zoo They set up camp among cages filled with hungry monkeys, parrots and lions. They are demanding food 12 weeks after the start of the Israeli offensive.

Almost all 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza They were driven from their homes by a bombing that left much of the area in ruins. Many of them now swarm the southern city of Rafah, their hideouts filling corners and vacant lots.

At the private zoo run by the Gomaa family, a row of plastic tents stood near the animals’ pens and clothes hung on lines between the palm trees. A worker nearby tried hand feed a weak monkey with tomato slices.

Many of those who have taken refuge at the zoo are members of the Gomaa family, who lived in different parts of the enclave before the conflict destroyed their homes.

“There are many families who They were completely destroyed. Now our whole family lives in this zoo,” said Adel Gomaa, who fled Gaza City. “Living among animals is more merciful than what the warplanes in the sky give us.”

Four monkeys have already died and the fifth is now so weak that he cannot even eat when there is food, says zoo owner Ahmed Gomaa.