As soon as the war ended, Abu Abdel Rahman, not his real name, a 26-year-old fighter in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, emerged from the tunnels where he had directed operations against Israeli forces. He returned to his normal life, splitting his time between work in the Palestinian police force, studying and his family. The war, however, has not left Rahman. "Since the end of the war, I've been plagued by nightmares. I dream that they've opened the tunnel and found us inside, and kill us," he told Al-Monitor.
Sitting with Rahman is not easy. He watches everything around him, noting every movement, and he falls silent when a stranger approaches nearby. "I can't [let anyone] recognize the sound of my voice," he said. Before taking a seat, Rahman removes all his electronic devices and leaves them at a distance from where he eventually comes to rest.
