Palestinians in Gaza are resorting to attacking Hamas security forces due to the worsening conditions caused by shortages of food, water, and medicine. Witnesses have reported acts of defiance such as rock-throwing at Hamas police who tried to jump water queues and open insults towards Hamas officials. This indicates a growing discontent with Hamas’s rule and suggests that locals blame the group for the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Israeli invasion.
According to Gazans who spoke to the Associated Press, there has been a breakdown in law and order due to food shortages, with fights breaking out in bread queues. People have been arming themselves with knives and sticks for self-protection. In one incident, a Gazan hit a Hamas officer over the head with a chair after being scolded for trying to jump a bread queue. Another woman reported that her nephew was stabbed after being accused of jumping a water queue.
The desperation among the people of Gaza is evident, with tension visible in their eyes. Some Gazans have lost their fear of Hamas and openly criticize the group. At one UN shelter in Gaza City, hundreds of residents expressed their desire for the war to end each time Hamas fired rockets towards Israel. During a press conference, a young man disrupted a speech by a Hamas spokesman and shouted insults at the group.
However, the anger towards Hamas does not indicate sympathy for Israel. Rather, Gazans feel that Hamas has played into the hands of their enemies. One resident openly criticized Ismael Haniyeh, Hamas’s Qatar-based leader, calling him the “biggest collaborator.”
Since the Israeli ground invasion, nearly half of Gaza’s population has been displaced, seeking refuge in overcrowded shelters. Water supply was initially cut off by Israel but has since been restored. However, a lack of fuel for water pumps has resulted in taps running almost dry. Residents now have to wait for hours to access brackish pump water or risk using unfiltered supplies that can cause illness. As a result, diseases such as scabies and diarrhea are spreading due to poor sanitation conditions.
The daily life of many Gazans revolves around queuing for water and bread. Families send their most assertive members to secure these basic necessities, often facing violence and returning empty-handed. The deteriorating situation is distressing for Gazans, who pride themselves on their solidarity in times of suffering.
Many Gazans are surviving on just one meal a day, mainly consisting of dried food like dates and biscuits. Fresh produce such as milk, eggs, and meat has become a luxury. Malnutrition is becoming a real threat, and health issues like chickenpox and head lice are spreading. Some patients are unable to receive vital chemotherapy treatments, leading to further complications. Thousands of Palestinians are leaving northern Gaza through humanitarian corridors, often on foot with minimal belongings.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with reports of dead bodies on the road being eaten by birds, crows, and dogs. The desperation is palpable, and the need for immediate aid and relief is urgent.
