Gaza Genocide in Numbers: 1000 Days of Genocide

Thursday 2/7/2026 marks the 1000th day following the genocidal war launched by Israel following the 7 October attack.

1000 days passed, and we saw the live genocide in the 21^st century taking place live in Gaza and other occupied areas in Palestine, Lebanon, Iran and Syria.

Now that is what has happened in Gaza and its 2.5 million population after 1000 days of an Israeli war and world silence.

More than 90% of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, and Israeli forces are in control of 80% of the besieged enclave. Over 200,000 tons of explosive dropped by the Israeli occupation on Gaza

According to the Palestinian official numbers, 73,066 is the total number of people killed whose bodies have reached hospitals since the start of the genocidal war in Gaza, whereas there are 9,500 Missing persons, including those believed to be trapped under the rubble or whose fate remains unknown.

Based on a pre-war population of approximately 2.5 million, the 73,066 confirmed deaths represent about 2.9% of Gaza's population.

When 9,500 missing persons—including those believed trapped beneath the rubble or whose fate remains unknown—are included, the toll rises to 82,566 people, or roughly 3.3% of the population.

In other words, about 1 in every 34 Gazans has been confirmed killed (2.9%) and about 1 in every 30 Gazans is either confirmed dead or missing (3.3%).

A Lancet Global Health study published in April 2026 estimated that approximately 75,200 violent deaths occurred in Gaza between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025, using a capture-recapture method.

Seen in Downtown Cairo : Before and after the Egyptian Railways Engineering Building

Seen in Downtown Cairo: Before-and-after photos of the Egyptian Railways Engineering Building document the final days of the famous 100-plus-year-old headquarters in Ramses Square — from its preparation for demolition, to the demolition itself, and finally its disappearance to make way for the widening of the October Bridge.

Constructed in 1908, the building was officially listed as architecturally significant under Law 144 of 2006, which protects structures of historical and aesthetic value.

However, in May 2024, the Ministry of Housing issued a decree removing several properties in western Cairo from that protected list, including the Egyptian Railways headquarters at 6 El-Galaa Street.

In 2026, it was fully demolished. I took photos of it in those days, if not months.

Happy Easter 2026 from Egypt and Palestine too

Happy Easter to all those celebrating today—especially Egyptian and Sudanese Coptic Orthodox Christians, as well as Palestinian and Lebanese Orthodox communities.

On this occasion, I’m sharing a photo of the Church of the Martyr St. Philopater Mercurius in Mohandessin, Giza—commonly known as “Abu Sefein,” or “the man of two swords.”

Watch This : Seasons & Streets “From Egyptian Canal to Ramadan Bazaar”

Ramadan Kareem,

It may be wartime, but before we get busy with everything that comes with it, let’s take a short break and watch this brief video clip from Seasons & Streets about Cairo’s Ramadan bazaar in El-Sayeda Zeinab in 2026.

You have already seen the photos from there, so now it is time for the video. "Choose English subtitles"

I first wrote about this bazaar—or rather the street where it is held annually—mainly El-Sadd El-Barani Street, officially known as Youssef El-Sebai Street, back in 2023. But this year, we take a step further and look at the history of the market itself and how it grew into the largest seasonal makeshift market in Cairo, if not in Egypt.

Historically, the Sayeda Zeinab Ramadan bazaar was not the original center of Ramadan lantern production.

The historic hub of khayamiya (traditional tentmaking appliqué) and lantern craftsmanship was Tah’t Al-Rab‘, near Bab Zuweila, an area associated with these crafts since the Fatimid and Mamluk eras.

Seen in Cairo : El Basilica of Heliopolis

On the occasion of Easter, here is a photo taken during Christmas of Our Lady of Heliopolis Co-Cathedral — also known as the Latin Cathedral of Our Lady of Heliopolis, the Basilica of the Holy Virgin, Basilique de Notre-Dame d'Héliopolis, or simply El Basilica in Cairo.

El-Basilica or Basilique de Notre-Dame d'Heliopolis 

This Roman Catholic church is located on Al-Ahram Square in Heliopolis. Designed in the Byzantine Revival style by French architect Alexandre Marcel, the cathedral was inspired by the Hagia Sophia and commissioned by Baron Empain through his Cairo Electric Railways & Heliopolis Oasis Company. It was completed in 1913.

Kodak Agfa presents: Cairo’s Ramadan Bazaar of Ahmed Maher Street or from Bab El-Khalk to Bab Zuweila Gate aka Taht el-Rab’a “Part.2”

It is like the last day of Ramadan, and I am really sorry to publish the second part of this post only now.

I should have posted earlier if it were not for the Ramadan procrastination, health issues, and work-life balance. It is not too late.

I am sorry that I am posting right now just as we are starting to re-watch the second season of the Gaza genocide again and watch live helplessly.

To be honest I am using this post as more of a runaway to escape the yet again footage and photos of killed children in hospitals.

I pray that when I finish this post a Ramadan miracle happens and ends this nightmare as soon as possible.

Now back to That el-Rab’a and that trip in that street from Bab El-Khalk to Bab Zuweila gate.

We stopped last time at the Ramadan Saint Patrons in Egypt: Bogy and Tamtam

Bogy and Tamtam, the saint patrons of Ramadan in Egypt 

Their facial expression may reflect many things in our time whether domestically or regionally or internationally.

Their statues on the street were like two ancient Egyptian statues guarding some ancient Egyptian King's tomb in some irony.

Despite the younger generations did not watch their shows in Ramadan as my generation had, many of them stopped and took photos with Ramadan’s most famous duo.

Snapping a photo with Bogy and Tamtam

Now you will know that you are near Bab Zuweila gate when you reach its famous walls or rather the walls of the Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad.

Ramadan lanterns in the shadow of
Mosque of Sultan al-Muayyad Sheikh and Bab Zuweila

Bab Zuwayla or Bab Zuweila (Arabic: باب زويلة) is one of three remaining gates in the city walls of historic Cairo in Egypt. It was also known as Bawabat al-Mitwali or as Bab al-Mitwali or Bab al-Qus.

Kodak Agfa presents : Cairo’s Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine during Renovations

A very short break and escape from a war that will be our Karbala moment as a nation and on the eve of the re-inauguration of Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque and Shrine after a major renovation, I would like to share with you a couple of photos I took earlier this year to the Mosque while it was still being renovated.

On Sunday, it is expected that the Mosque will be re-inaugurated by the current Sultan of Bohras Mufaddal Saifuddin and Egyptian officials above them expectedly President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque's entrance from Al-Sadd Street in Cairo

The Indian spiritual leader of the Shia sect arrived in Cairo on Saturday and met with El-Sisi.

I think that he made a new record number of visits to Egypt in the past few years that no other Sultan of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam had made in the past.

The Dawoodi Bohra Shiites are funding the whole renovation process of the mosques and shrines Ahl Al-Beit or Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) Family in Egypt especially in Cairo.

Al-Sayeda Zeinab or Lady Zeinab is Prophet Mohamed’s granddaughter. It is widely believed in Egypt that she came to Cairo in 61 Hijri (680 AD) and lived there till her death. Lady Zeinab was buried in a place that was once part of the Egyptian Gulf.

Lady Zeinab is a holy symbol for Shias as well as the Sunnis, especially Egyptians “We are the Shiaa of the Sunni”.

One of the oldest photos taken in the 19th century of El-Sayeda Zeinab
Mosque in Cairo

Again, I won’t enter the debate about whether Lady Zeinab Peace Upon Her was buried in Cairo or in Damascus but the oldest mention of the mosque as a shrine for the Prophet Mohamed’s Granddaughter or “Mashhad al-Sayyida Zainab” was found in the 4^th century Hijri (10^th century) chronicles of Andalusian traveller “Al-Fassi” to Egypt during then.

Happy Orthodox Easter: From Giza (2023)

Happy Orthodox Easter to all those celebrating it tonight, especially Egyptian Coptic Christians.

On this occasion, I would like to share with you the photo of the Great Martyr Philopater Mercurius Church or as commonly known as “Abo Sefein” Church in Giza governorate’s Mohandessin district on one fine morning. 

Abu Sefein Church in Mohandessin district, Giza 

The Church integrated in the 1970s I believe was named after the famous Saint Mercurius aka Abo Sefein aka The Father to two swords. 

Seen in Cairo: Adly synagogue aka Sha’ar Hashamayim synagogue

Seen in Cairo on two busy and buzzy two different afternoons weeks apart including Tuesday afternoon, Adly synagogue aka Sha’ar Hashamayim synagogue standing high during the Hanukkah in the Egyptian Capital’s Downtown during Hanukkah.

Adly synagogue reminds us of a bygone era 

Designed by Jewish Maurice Joseph Cattaui and was built by Catholic architect Eduard Matasek. The project started in 1899 and was funded by wealthy Egyptian and foreign Jewish families living in the country above them the Cattaui family and Mosseri family.

It was inaugurated in 1908 serving Sephardic Jews. 

KA on the Go: Happy New Hijiri Year 1444

May this Hijri new year bring some peace to many troubled areas in the Muslim world especially in Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Libya, Chinese Muslims and Burmese Muslims as well as Ukrainian Muslims.

May this Hijiri new year bring justice and freedom to all Muslim worlds in the same way that trip of Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) changed the fate of Islam.

I would like repeat what Prophet Mohamed (PBUH) said to his companion on that trip in a cave in the middle of the desert (Do not be sad, Allah is with us) regardless of what.

On this occasion Kodak Agfa would like to share those old photos taken in April 2021 days before Ramadan for the famous El-Sayeda Zeinab’s Mosque and Shrine in Cairo taken from the car as you all see

El-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque during afternoon in Cairo 
in April 2021

I would like to share those photos now because the famous Mosque and Shrine with its green lights.

Save Cairo Houseboats: Waiting for a miracle in a deadly time

It is too hard to write this, it is very heavy to write this post.

I am waiting for a miracle, for divine intervention to make this stop so I won’t need to write anything because I feel too heavy, tired and frustrated as well as sad to speak about what is happening to those houseboats.

We may not see this scene again in the upcoming days 

A couple of days ago, the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water source sent an eviction notice to the owners of 32 Nile houseboats in Imbaba’s KitKat area in Giza governorate.

Despite living for decades there and despite official maintenance bills for decades, the Ministry claims that their existence is illegal.

It is all over the news whether in New York Times, Ahram Online, BBC News, Reuters, Financial Times ABC News, AFP and others in the past week.

The Ministry has already begun to demolish some of the houseboats. They also moved a couple of them for huge sums of money to their warehouses.

I do not need to speak about the history of houseboats in Egypt and how they became part of old and modern Cairo’s visual heritage. It is explained in those links.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Luxor’s Deir El-Bahry aka Hatshepsut temple in February 2012 (Part-2)

And we continue our short and quick tour in Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple in Luxor’s Deir El-Bahry in February 2012.

You can refresh your memory and see more about the history of the famous Egyptian Queen’s temple and the history of its excavation as well as the first lower floors or courts in the temple itself in the first part of this two-series post.

On the way to Hatshepsut temple in Deir El-Bahry 

An important disclaimer: I included here only the parts I have seen in this huge complex. There are even more parts that I missed. 

Now to the middle of the second terrace or the court which you reach through a ramp from the lower terrace or court.

The middle terrace of Hatshepsut mortuary temple 

The middle terrace measures 75m deep by 90 m wide according to Wikipedia and it is fronted by colonnades. There are lots of details on this terrace.

Kodak Agfa Presents : Luxor’s Deir El-Bahry aka Hatshepsut temple in February 2012 (Part-1)

This time Kodak Agfa is going to present photos taken from a decade ago and it feels so weird and yet so close!!

I know I am lazy but for my defense, 2012 was among the years full of action in Egypt to the level that amazes me till now.

Anyhow enough of excuses and nostalgia and let’s end that 2012-trip in Luxor and Aswan with the legendary Deir El-Bahry’s site of Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple.

Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple in Luxor 

It was the last major site I took photos in that short visit in Luxor after the Karnak and Luxor temples.

Saving Cairo's City of the Dead : The menace to Cairene valley of the Kings is still there

From a couple of weeks ago, many Egyptians received a notification that their family cemeteries will be demolished as part of the government or rather the state’s road extension plan in the Imam Al-Shafie area.

The families were offered small areas for cemeteries as compensation in 15 May city.

The news caught the attention and caused anger among many including myself as aside from the historical importance of this area, it turned out to host the tombs of Egypt’s top figures in the 20th century who shaped this country in the Modern age aside hundreds of normal citizens who deserve to be left alone.

It is like a modern valley of the Kings but prominent figures and commoners both since the Middle ages.

It was a shock to find that late Queen Farida of Egypt was among those unfortunate Egyptians whose family cemeteries are on the demolishment list.

Her family and friends spoke up and the mainstream media covered the issue shyly presenting an opposite view for the government's plan on a couple of two channels.

A rumour spread that the government was going to change the route of this road extension plan but as I hinted it is a rumour and people are back to square one if zero.

As far as I know, engineers and experts presented a number of alternative projects to avoid this area from the city of the Dead altogether.

A scene from Cairo's city of the dead "Safeguard of historic Cairo's cemeteries FB"

Some families are planning to sue the government and the governorate in front of the administrative court but I fear it may take time and it will be late.

This brings us to the importance of the long-absent true community dialogue in Egypt.

Known as Cairo city of the Dead, this area has been listed by UNESCO as part of Historic Cairo. 

Egypt revives the ancient Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor tonight

In case you do not know, Egypt is on a date on another glitzy ancient Egyptian inspired parade in a few hours.

The avenue of the Sphinxes on 24 November's night "Ahmed Gomaa"

The 1.7-mile-long and about 250-feet-wide-Sphinxes Avenue connect the Luxor temple complex and the Karnak temple complex. According to historical accounts, the current surviving sphinxes avenue was built by King Nectanebo I, the founder of Egypt’s last native ruling dynasty aka the 30th dynasty in the late period.

The Avenue of Sphinxes in 2012

According to archaeologists, most of the sphinxes or rams statues in the avenues have been restored. They are over 1,000 statues. We got four of them in Tahrir square despite the objections of the archaeologists. I wonder why we do not put them back where they belong.

It is said that the face of the sphinxes depicted Nectanebo I in accordance with the famous ancient Egyptian tradition that started in the old kingdom.

The trip to revive the avenue was long starting from year 1984 to 2000 thanks to Egyptian archaeologists then the plan to restore it kicked off in the year 2009 then was stopped for a while in 2011 then it was resumed later till we see right now.

Egypt’s Queen Farida at 100: Please Save her tomb, Safeguard Historic Cairo Cemeteries "Updated"

This month does not mark only the centenary of Princess Fawzia Fouad, it is also the centenary of Egypt’s Queen Farida.

Queen Farida is by far the most popular Queen/First lady in Egypt in modern times. We are speaking about an amazing model of an Egyptian woman who did not bend due to hard circumstances whether political or economic situations.

From Egypt’s privileged upper class to the Royal throne to become a young popular Queen then to get a divorce then to face political and economic upheavals then to become a prominent artist in exile before returning to Egypt, Queen Farida was a unique example of Egyptian strong independent woman when you think about it.

I want to write something about her jewelry collection at the Egyptian Royal Jewelry Museum but due to time limits, I could not because it is bigger than Fawzia’s collection.

Instead, I am writing this sad post

The Egyptian government decides to remove the cemetery of Queen Farida giving her family’s descendants very short notice to transfer the remains of their ancestors among other families to very small cemeteries at the 15^th May city’s outskirts because of new highways and bridges plan in Cairo.

Queen Farida's tomb at her family cemetery in Cairo 
"Seif Allah Zulficar" 

So instead of a special exhibit featuring Queen Farida, her jewelry and her art in any of the so many museums we have in Egypt, this is how the Egyptian government celebrates her centenary.

Tiktok dispatch #1 Welcome to the Jungle

Lately, I have been spending more and more time on Tiktok.

I have become addicted to the short video-sharing Chinese media platform that took the world by storm. Tiktok has had its own storm in Egypt’s legal system after its endless controversy whether the sad Tiktok girls saga or the Tiktok racist bullies. It earned a bad reputation.

Older generations still consider it the social media platform of vice where women pimp themselves thanks to the endless Tiktok girls arrested in the media every couple of weeks whereas older Upper classes look at it as a vulgar social media platform of lower classes sing and dance on awful Mahraganat music that should be banned altogether.

Ironically those old Upper classes do not realize that their young actually are active on the platform like any youth in the world nowadays and present interesting content.

For me, as I dig more and I change my choice algorithm, it became another way for me to see that other Egypt usually ignored or forgotten in the mainstream media.

I remember seeing that small protest organized by a group of angry high school students against the Education Minister in front of the Education Ministry in Downtown Cairo following the announcement of the Thanaweya Amma results of the 2020/21 academic year. Almost all news websites ignored this small protest.

I knew through it about great talents.

Like Mr Sayed who used to work in a simple poor workshop but Tiktok and social media changed his life thanks to some Tweets. This is the first video I have ever seen for him and I could not ignore it.

Egyptian Faces : Hafiza Rostom El-Alfi

I could not ignore that photo of this lady in a Victorian dress greeting me as I was heading to get my Covid-19 vaccination jabs at Giza’s Islamic Association Charity Agouza hospital aka Agouza hospital’s clinics' annexe.

A close-up enhanced photo of Hafiza El-Alfi, yes I used Remini as the photo
was not great.

I took my mobile phone and snapped photos of the photo and a small statue bust.

Security guards were curious to know why I was doing that but how I could not when I see in front of me a very interesting Egyptian who should be remembered.

The commemoration photo of Hafiza Hanim Rostom Helmy El-Alfi at Agouza
Hospital Annexe in Gaza 

“In the memory of Hajja Hafiza Rostom El-Alfi , the wife of Youssef Bey Naguib who passed away on 13 June 1936/23 Rabei Al-Awl 1355 as she gifted her money , properties and Jewelry to the Islamic Association charity to build Agouza hospital, Cairo Ambulance Authority, The Conservation of Holy Quran Society and the support of foreign students receiving education in Al-Azhar University. ” 

This commemoration photo and a very short biography in both Arabic and French “interesting choice of language” of Hafiza, as well as a small bust statue, are located at the entrance of the new annexe of the hospital “its new clinics complex” which was inaugurated in March 2015 by former PM Ibrahim Mahleb.

This is the first time I know that an Egyptian woman was actually behind Giza’s biggest charity hospital.

I searched for more information about that aristocratic lady who decided to donate her wealth to charity but I found very little personal information and more charity works and buildings that are still standing to this day. 

Kodak Agfa Presents: Quick look to Tahrir square after renovations at night

Here is a small glimpse of  World famous Cairo's Tahrir square after its renovation from the car in April.

Tahrir square after renovation 

The facades of the neoclassical, modernist and Art deco buildings were recoloured and re-painted with the pastel beige and had this new lighting system at night.

The building at the intersection of Tahrir square and Mohamed Mahmoud street

The new lighting system was made by the Public sector ministry and it cost LE 60 million. 

I wonder if all those lights are turned off at a certain time at night or how they manage it. Here is a shaky photo of some of Tahrir square’s buildings.

Seen in Cairo : Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque in one fine afternoon

And because we are in the heart of historical Islamic Cairo, it was not a big surprise to meet a new ancient mosque in the El-Siyada Zeinab area that gave the scene in Ramadan lanterns market more Ramadan vibe magic.

The minaret of Fatima El-Shaqra Mosque 

This ancient mosque caught my eyes when I was in Bab Al-Khalq for the Ramadan lanterns makeshift markets.