Gaza families endure daily survival struggles amid ongoing conflict
Residents of Gaza describe how queues for water, food and electricity have become the core of everyday life as the war continues.
Two years after her husband vanished at an Israeli checkpoint, Raja al-Shawish lives in a UNRWA classroom in western Gaza, caring for her children while coping with the loss of her partner. She sold most of her gold to feed them, keeping one piece for a hoped-for reunion. Neighbour Nihad al-Skafi, a former construction worker, now queues each dawn for water and food aid, and struggles to obtain firewood after his gas supply ran out.
The war, which began in October 2023, has caused tens of thousands of deaths and left many missing, while ceasefire attempts have failed. International legal proceedings, including a case by South Africa at the ICJ and arrest warrants at the ICC, target Israeli officials for alleged genocide and war crimes. Daily life in Gaza has shifted to relentless survival chores, reshaping social habits and community dynamics.
Why it matters
It shows how protracted conflict reshapes everyday life and fuels ongoing international legal disputes.
How this story developed
- Sep 28 Mark Carney overtakes Donald Trump in Nobel Peace Prize betting odds
- Oct 3 The United States has imposed 50 % tariffs on certain Canadian goods.
- Oct 6 Israeli forces used tear‑gas and briefly detained six journalists during the olive‑harvest confrontations.
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