Voices from a Year of Horror in Gaza and the West Bank: Rania’s story

Speaking of her relative, an eye doctor, who struggled to get his daughter with a heart condition the care she needed due to the complicated coordination process.

"The issue of taking the child for treatment took time due to coordination, conditions, and restrictions on who could accompany her. Sometimes her mother could go, sometimes her grandmother.

It honestly left a big wound in us, showing how we were not truly free," she says, highlighting how even something as basic as healthcare was often out of reach. 

The occupation affected every aspect of life in Gaza, a lack of resources, restricted movement, and a constant sense of instability.

Rania explains, "We have a lack of resources, and there are restrictions on these resources. Certain items are prohibited from being imported, patient travel is restricted, and even fishermen have limits on where they can go. Their lives are always at risk."  

The occupation affected every aspect of life in Gaza, a lack of resources, restricted movement, and a constant sense of instability. Rania explains, "We have a lack of resources, and there are restrictions on these resources. Certain items are prohibited from being imported, patient travel is restricted, and even fishermen have limits on where they can go. Their lives are always at risk."  

Gaza has long been one of the most dangerous places to live in, with multiple intense military operations over the years, each reiterating the insecurity and danger that could come at any moment, and each bringing more destruction. 

Yet, Rania found ways to make life under occupation as meaningful as she could. She worked tirelessly to provide her children with opportunities, enrolling them in education and training courses in computing, programming, and languages.  

"Honestly, our lives, thank God, lacked nothing on a personal level," she says, reflecting on her family’s situation before the escalation. Her job with an agricultural relief organisation was fulfilling, working closely with an active team to support farmers and communities in Gaza.  

Even while enduring decades of discrimination, severe hardships, and an illegal occupation, Palestinians in Gaza demonstrate incredible resilience and a unique ability to maintain hope and purpose in their everyday lives. 

 But the ferocity of the Israeli military offensive that began in 2023 was unlike anything Rania had experienced before. 

"No one expected the brutal attack that happened," Rania recalls. She describes the moment she was forced to leave Gaza City with her family. Despite wanting to stay, the pressure from loved ones to flee for their children’s safety became overwhelming.

Yet even after fleeing, Rania’s sense of stability was shattered. "I returned after two days, but I felt that life wasn't ours anymore." 

The displacement Rania and her family experienced became a cycle of constant upheaval. "It's been a year now in this reality," she explains. "We've been displaced four times between Gaza, Nuseirat, and Rafah. We hope from God that we won't have to leave again because it's enough."

For her children, the toll has been immense, "their lives turned upside down. The child who was once comfortable now has to queue for water, sacrificing time for studies and courses. Our lives truly turned upside down." 

Rania’s story is just one of many in Gaza, where families have been repeatedly displaced, struggling to adapt to an ever-worsening situation.

"Each displacement is worse than the previous one," she says, reflecting on conversations with her colleagues. "We would be ready to settle, but when we had to leave again, we found ourselves having to start from scratch." 

The psychological trauma has also been profound. Rania describes the relentless fear and anxiety that accompany life in Gaza. "There was always a feeling of instability. At any moment, there could be an escalation. It made us feel that there was no stability, no safety."

When the 2023 bombardment began, the scale of the attacks left the community in shock.

Despite everything, Rania continues to work, driven by her belief in the importance of her role in civil society. "We would go to the field and listen to people's concerns and problems," she says.

"Honestly, we would leave the field feeling drained, unable to speak from the amount of worry and stress. But at the same time, we felt how important our role is—to be among the people and with the people, meeting their needs as much as possible, raising their voices, defending their issues." 

However, the challenges are immense. Rania speaks of the overwhelming gap between the need and the available resources.

"The level of response was limited," she says. "Compared to the ferocity of the war, the scale of the disaster far exceeds anything that could have ever been planned for."

Yet civil society organisations like Rania's continue to play a crucial role, offering support where they can, as they struggle to keep up with the sheer scale of the suffering. 

Rania’s story, like so many others in Gaza, is a testament to both the enduring suffering and the incredible resilience of Palestinians. in the face of unimaginable suffering, families have no choice but continue to live, and civil society remains a lifeline, providing much-needed services and raising the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves.

As Gaza continues to endure the intensive Israeli military offensive, Rania’s story serves as a reminder of the human cost of this conflict, and of the humanity that remains even in the darkest of times. 

As the world mobilizes to support the recovery and reconstruction of Palestine, it is essential that states actively engage and consult with Palestinian civil society.

Their knowledge and perspectives must be at the forefront to ensure that reconstruction efforts are sustainable and culturally appropriate.

We urge the international community to priorities localized strategies, empowering Palestinians to take the lead in rebuilding their country.