Gazans Still Struggling with Daily Hardships Despite Truce
The recent truce between Israel and Hamas has provided a temporary pause in the violence that has plagued the Gaza Strip. However, for many Gazans, the daily hardships of war continue to persist. Despite the increased number of aid trucks entering Gaza from Egypt, the humanitarian needs are so immense that little or no impact has been felt by the people.
One of the most pressing issues faced by Gazans is the lack of access to clean water. At a water station in Khan Younis, residents fill plastic containers and transport them to their homes or shelters using various means such as carts pulled by donkeys, bicycles, or even wheelbarrows. The struggle for water is a daily occurrence, even during the ceasefire. Rami Al-Rizek, who was displaced from his home in Gaza City, expressed his frustration, stating, “Whether there is a truce or not, we still have no electricity, no water, and none of life’s basic necessities.”
The dire situation is further exacerbated by the destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes. Many homes have been reduced to rubble, leaving families displaced and searching for basic necessities. Maryam Abu Rjaileh returned to her destroyed home to search for clothes for her children. She described the devastation, saying, “We see our homes getting destroyed, our dreams getting destroyed, we see the efforts we put into our homes all destroyed.” The ceasefire provides little solace as Gazans continue to face the harsh reality of their situation.
Painful memories haunt the residents of Khan Younis. Yasser Abu Shamaleh, who lost over 30 relatives in the conflict, paced over the debris that used to be a block where many of his family members lived. He expressed his frustration at the lack of progress in recovering bodies trapped under the rubble. “What use is the truce if the bodies remain under the rubble?” he questioned. The ceasefire should be a time for Gazans to honor the dead by burying them, but without the necessary machinery and tools, this task remains difficult.
The war between Israel and Hamas has resulted in immense loss of life. According to Israeli figures, 1,200 people, including babies and children, were killed during the conflict. Gazan health officials report that over 15,000 people, approximately 40% of them children, lost their lives. The pain and trauma inflicted on the residents of Khan Younis and other areas of Gaza cannot be easily overcome. Ahmed Al-Najjar, another resident of Khan Younis, expressed his sentiments, stating, “Four days are not enough, and forty days are not enough, and four years will not be enough to get over the pain.”
The truce may have provided a temporary respite from the violence, but it has not addressed the underlying issues faced by Gazans. The lack of access to basic necessities such as water and electricity continues to be a daily struggle. The destruction caused by the conflict has left many families displaced and searching for their loved ones. The pain and trauma inflicted on the residents of Gaza will take much longer than a ceasefire to heal. The international community must work towards a long-term solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and provides the necessary support for the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives.