1949

“A voice over a loudspeaker announced that we were forced to leave al-Tayyibah, but that we would be allowed to return after a couple of days. I lost my clothes, books, and toys. Some people who had money fled by taxi.

My family—we were twelve people—made our way to al-Jabliya in Jaffa. There we stayed with an uncle for three or four days. We were then picked up by buses. On the way to the bus, I passed a bank next to a police station. It had been blown to pieces, and banknotes were scattered all over the street. I did not dare stop and pick up any of the bills.”