Amidst the devastation and humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza after over a year of conflict, residents like Itimad al-Qanou are facing a life of profound hardship, hunger, and fear. Qanou, a mother of seven, describes the dire reality of daily life in her town of Deir al-Balah, where children line up at charity centers with empty pots, hoping to receive scarce portions of lentil soup. For many families, these donations are far from sufficient to meet their basic needs.

"Let them drop a nuclear bomb and end it," she says in desperation. "We don't want this life we're living; we are dying slowly. Have mercy on us." Qanou, whose children range in age from eight to 18, expresses a widespread sentiment of abandonment, as the relentless bombings continue to take lives and destroy homes, while hunger intensifies the community's suffering.

Global food security experts have warned that famine may be imminent in northern Gaza as Israel intensifies its offensive against Hamas. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the U.N. Palestinian relief agency (UNRWA), has accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon in this prolonged conflict. The Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) recently published a report on its humanitarian efforts, citing over a million tons of aid delivered over the past year. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon claims Hamas has intercepted much of the aid, a charge Hamas denies.

On Monday, humanitarian aid trucks were permitted to pass through the Erez crossing, bringing vital supplies to northern Gaza. Yet, for many like Qanou, the relief is minimal in the face of constant airstrikes and limited safe shelter, with displaced families frequently forced to evacuate tent encampments as conflict zones shift.

Mohamed Abou Qaraa, another displaced Gazan, compared current conditions to the 1948 Nakba, or "Catastrophe," which saw Palestinians dispossessed of their homes amid the creation of Israel. "Conditions were better than what we face now," he laments. "Now, we have no security, and no place."

As the humanitarian crisis escalates, Gaza’s residents continue to call on international leaders and neighboring Arab states to increase support and access to food and basic resources.