Gaza — Two years into the devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas, life in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels of hardship. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 67,173 people have been killed and 169,780 injured since the war began. Roughly one in nine residents who were alive before the war has either been wounded or lost their life.
The ongoing humanitarian catastrophe has created what officials describe as a “man-made famine,” leaving the majority of Gazans without homes, livelihoods, or access to basic necessities. This crisis persists even as indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas unfold in Egypt, offering a glimmer of hope.
Hunger and Malnutrition
For many Gazans, survival revolves around securing scarce food and water. Mahmoud Nabil Faraj, 36, told CNN that he and his family often survive on one meal a day, sometimes skipping meals entirely to ensure his children eat.
“These are the hardest days we’ve ever lived,” Faraj said. “Our children are deprived of the basic foods needed to grow, and our bodies have become frail and weak due to the lack of nutrition.”
Food supplies are limited and prohibitively expensive. A single kilogram of sugar now costs around $150, while dairy, eggs, meat, and poultry remain largely unavailable. Before the war, Faraj ran a grocery store and his wife managed an optometry center in eastern Gaza City, both of which were destroyed.
Families Struggling to Survive
Raghad Izzat Hammouda, 20, shared the profound impact on her six younger siblings. “They had dreams of school, travel, and certificates, but now their highest aspiration is to gather firewood and fetch water. They are happy if they eat a morsel of bread,” she said.
Hammouda herself has endured chronic hunger, surviving on minimal portions of canned food. Her family has also lost 10 relatives in the conflict, including her 80-year-old grandmother, whose burial was delayed for a week due to the dire circumstances.
Physical and Emotional Toll
Mohammed Saeed Al-Khatib, 42, recounted the dramatic weight loss caused by chronic malnutrition. He estimates he has lost more than a third of his body weight since the war began, dropping from 143 kilograms (315 pounds) to roughly 90 kilograms (200 pounds).
His children face disrupted education, limited healthcare, and constant exposure to unsafe conditions. The family has been displaced more than six times, living in tents and temporary housing while struggling to access food and water. “We used spoiled flour infested with insects and worms just to feed the children,” Al-Khatib said.
Displacement and Uncertainty
Graphic designer Mohammed Matar described the loss of stability and normalcy. Previously enjoying a stable life, he now must ration one kilo of flour for two and a half days, often skipping meals to feed his children. Displaced multiple times, his family remains scattered across Gaza.
“My children suffer from health issues and malnutrition. Carrying even a bucket of water has become physically exhausting,” Matar said. “We have lost our normal life and hope.”
A Grim Reality
The war, which began after the October 7, 2023 attacks in which Hamas killed over 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has left Gaza in ruins. Independent investigations by organizations such as the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Israeli human rights groups, and United Nations inquiries have accused Israel of acts that may amount to genocide, allegations the Israeli government denies.
For the people of Gaza, life has become a daily struggle for survival. Destroyed infrastructure, food shortages, repeated displacement, and widespread trauma have reshaped everyday existence. For families like Faraj’s, Hammouda’s, Al-Khatib’s, and Matar’s, even simple acts—eating, accessing clean water, or sheltering their children—are monumental challenges.
Glimmer of Hope
As indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Egypt, Gaza residents cling to hope that some resolution may bring relief. For now, the majority remain trapped between relentless conflict and a deepening humanitarian crisis, living each day in fear, hunger, and uncertainty.
