Life in Gaza remains dire for its 2.3 million residents more than a year following the ceasefire that began after the 7 October 2023 raid by Hamas militants into southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli military offensive. The conflict has killed approximately 73,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving much of the territory in ruins. Residents interviewed describe daily existence marked by severe resource scarcity, inadequate healthcare, disease outbreaks, and psychological trauma from lost homes and livelihoods.
Despite the official ceasefire, violence continues. Israeli airstrikes have persisted throughout the past year, killing an additional 1,400 Palestinians according to accounts. Recent escalations have resulted in additional fatalities in areas including Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis. Palestinian casualties have occurred both from airstrikes and from shooting incidents near territorial boundaries within Gaza. The Israeli military attributes strikes to militant targeting, while Palestinians and aid workers characterize the situation as incomplete peace.
Humanitarian conditions remain critical. The UN’s humanitarian coordinator reported that infectious diseases are widespread in overcrowded displacement sites with inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. While malnutrition persists despite increased food supplies, medical shortages continue due to restricted entry of critical items and inadequate funding for relief operations. Israeli authorities maintain that over 600 trucks of supplies enter daily and deny supply shortages. Hamas has reestablished administrative functions including rudimentary education, healthcare, and security, though services remain inconsistent.
Residents recall their prewar lives with longing—former professions, homes, gardens, and educational opportunities now lost or inaccessible. Some have been displaced multiple times, losing nearly all possessions. Others face restrictions preventing return to their original territories. Displaced Palestinians describe current existence as neither conflict nor peace, characterized by exhaustion, lost hope, and uncertainty about the future as reconstruction efforts remain stalled.
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