At dawn on October 13, 2023, a week after the Hamas attack on Israel and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian journalist Sami al-Ajrami locks the door of his home in Jabalia, where he has lived all his life. According to the instructions of the Israeli army, he and his family are evacuating to the south. For the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Al-Ajrami begins a diary in which he reports on the escalating conflict and the journey to southern Gaza. He writes about the constant search for a safe shelter, for food and warmth, but also about the sadness of leaving everything behind and the constant fear of the bombings. These daily reports form the basis for this book. He writes without embellishment, only what he sees and hears.
