A sense of desperation has taken hold of many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as they continue to endure dire humanitarian conditions following 12 months of relentless bombardment by Israel.
Abdallah Hmeida, a cancer patient displaced from Beit Lahia, shared the heart-wrenching reality of his situation, having lost his parents, brother, and sisters in the conflict. He expressed the torment of not knowing where to go and the harsh living conditions in tents.
Nabila Shunnar, another displaced individual from Sheikh Radwan, described her year as filled with fear, terror, hunger, and tragedy.
Residents of Gaza expressed surprise at the prolonged duration of the fighting and voiced concerns that it may never end, given the lack of concrete efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire. Some have been waiting for months for the conflict to cease so they can bury their deceased loved ones.
Um Fadi, a displaced woman from northern Gaza, highlighted her loss of hope in the international community's ability to intervene in the face of ongoing bloodshed. With her family living in tents and facing the approaching winter without adequate clothing, she painted a grim picture of their plight.
For the people of Gaza, the past year has been marked by suffering, poverty, hunger, disease, instability, and a pervasive sense of insecurity. Um Fadi poignantly described their collective experience as being like 'bodies without souls'.
