Traders and heritage experts rebuild Khan younis market from war rubble

Traders in the historic grain market of Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza Strip, are attempting to revive their livelihoods and ancestral businesses following heavy destruction from the recent war.

The Cultural Heritage Preservation Center is working to restore four historic shops that were completely leveled during the conflict. Engineer Manar Al-Fara, a representative of the center, says the team is using original stones that were salvaged and stored during the destruction.

They are applying specialized technical standards to ensure the reconstruction maintains the market's original architectural identity rather than replacing historical elements with modern materials. Individual traders face severe challenges while trying to reopen their businesses. Nahid Faisal Barbakh, who has worked in the market for 40 years, says the current war caused more damage than previous conflicts in 1948, 1967, and the two intifadas.

He notes that the market is currently nearly deserted because it sits near the "yellow line," a military boundary located about 300 meters away. Constant gunfire and drone flights make it dangerous for customers and traders to visit the area. Local families are trying to maintain their heritage despite the lack of infrastructure and commercial activity.

Mohammad Atta Shoat Al-Byouk, a 40-year-old meat trader who has worked in the market for 35 years, says his business has been almost entirely halted for three years due to the proximity to the military line. Meanwhile, 11-year-old Ahmed Al-Najjar sits in his family's shop with his father. His family owns the shop through a lineage spanning over 100 years, but they currently stay there only until sunset before returning to a relative's home for safety.