As the war in Gaza pushes deep into its third year, daily life for those living there is marked by both immense difficulty and fleeting moments of joy. Five ordinary Palestinians—a 12-year-old boy, a pregnant woman, a professor, a skateboarder, and a grandmother—share what a week in their lives looks like amid the ongoing conflict.
A Pregnant Woman in a Tent
Alaa Hessi is eight months pregnant and lives in a tent pitched over the ruins of her house. The home was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike that killed all three of her children. In one month, she will give birth to her fourth child.
A Boy Working Long Hours
Ramadan Ghaban, 12, supports his family by working long hours in a cafe on the beach. He dreams of becoming a lifeguard and tries to find moments to play late in the evenings after his shift ends.
A Grandmother in a Truck
Mansoura Dayem, 76, lives in the back of a flat-bed truck after an Israeli airstrike destroyed her house. She cooks, cleans, and tells her grandchildren stories to remind them of the home they left behind.
A Professor Without a University
Architecture lecturer Mahmoud Seydam watched Israel demolish the entire university where he once taught. Now living in a tent and powering his laptop with a broken solar panel, he tries to guide a generation of students through their education.
A Skateboarder Hunting for Parts
Rajab al Reefi runs a club teaching children skate tricks amid the rubble. With the last skateboards falling apart and no new boards getting in, he hunts through Gaza's debris for spare parts.
