Civilians in Gaza Strip are suffering from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has led to a food shortage and blackouts in the area. The densely populated enclave, with a population of 2.3 million people, is facing dire conditions as Israel retaliates against rocket attacks by Hamas. Health officials in Gaza have reported over 1,000 Palestinian deaths, with no information on how many were civilians. Many residents are fleeing their homes, but both Israel and Egypt have closed their borders, leaving them with nowhere to go.
The airstrikes have caused fear and devastation among the residents of Gaza. Aisha Abu Daqqa, a Gaza resident, describes the experience of living through the bombings, saying, “You’d hear the sound in the distance, and then you’d feel it shaking the house. For now, all we can do is wait and pray.” Mazen Mohammad, another resident, talks about the night his family spent huddled together in terror, feeling like the only survivors in a ghost town.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening, with Israel imposing a total siege on the area, cutting off essential supplies such as water, food, and energy. The enclave’s sole power plant has shut down due to lack of fuel, forcing residents to rely on car batteries to charge their phones. The Al-Shifa hospital is overwhelmed by the influx of patients and is running out of critical medical supplies, including oxygen. Canned food is disappearing from stores as people panic and stockpile supplies, and the territory’s only slaughterhouse is closed. Additionally, there is a shortage of vegetables, as they are mostly grown near the border.
Life for the residents trapped in the narrow strip of land is unimaginably difficult. Since 2007, when Israel imposed restrictions on Gaza residents, their opportunities to escape have been severely limited. Now, with the complete siege announced by Israel, cutting off electricity, food, and water supply, the situation is dire. The people of Gaza are caught in the crossfire of warring powers, facing a bleak future with no relief in sight.