Life in Gaza Before October 7

Prior to the recent escalations, ordinary Gazans faced dire humanitarian conditions exacerbated by a prolonged siege. In the summer of 2023, for instance, medical professionals noted alarming rates of malnourishment among children, as well as a pervasive sense of hopelessness regarding the future of Gaza. This bleak situation was compounded by escalating ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and a looming lack of international concern for the plight of Gazans, leading to a soul-crushing environment of despair. Many felt that their lives had been reduced to mere survival, with access to essential services often dictated by an arbitrary Israeli-imposed humanitarian threshold.