For over seven decades, the Gaza Strip has stood as a powerful symbol of resistance, resilience, and tragedy. A tiny sliver of land—just 365 square kilometers—Gaza is home to more than two million Palestinians, most of them refugees or descendants of refugees displaced during the 1948 Nakba. Hemmed in by blockades, subjected to repeated bombardments, and largely cut off from the world, Gaza has become synonymous with suffering. Yet, despite the relentless assaults on their lives and dignity, the people of Gaza continue to resist, to survive, and to cling fiercely to their identity.



This article explores how Gaza has endured amid an unending cycle of war, siege, and political abandonment. It delves into the mechanisms of survival, the role of resistance—both armed and unarmed—and the profound human cost of a conflict that shows no sign of ending.


The Historical Context of Gaza's Struggle


The roots of Gaza’s predicament lie in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After the establishment of Israel in 1948, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes. A large portion of them ended up in Gaza, swelling its population and straining its limited resources.


Following the 1967 war, Israel occupied Gaza along with the West Bank. While Israel formally disengaged from Gaza in 2005, it has maintained strict control over its borders, airspace, and maritime access. In 2007, after Hamas took control of the territory, Israel imposed a full blockade, severely restricting the movement of people and goods. The result has been an economic and humanitarian catastrophe.


Since then, Gaza has witnessed numerous military operations—2008-09’s Operation Cast Lead, 2012’s Pillar of Defense, 2014’s Protective Edge, and the 2021 and 2023 escalations, among others. Each war has left hundreds or thousands dead, tens of thousands homeless, and the infrastructure in ruins. The most recent assault in 2024-2025 has been the most destructive yet, pushing Gaza’s population to the brink of collapse.


Life Under Siege


The Israeli-Egyptian blockade, in place for over 17 years, has turned Gaza into what many international observers call the world’s largest open-air prison. Movement in and out is tightly controlled, and basic goods—including fuel, medical supplies, and building materials—are heavily restricted.


Electricity is available for only a few hours a day. Clean water is scarce, and over 95% of Gaza’s water is unfit for human consumption. The healthcare system is in a state of near-collapse, unable to cope with the thousands of wounded or chronically ill patients who require advanced treatment unavailable inside the enclave.


Despite these conditions, life goes on. Children go to school—even if their classrooms have been bombed. Families rebuild their homes, often with rubble and makeshift materials. Weddings are held amid ruins, and young people continue to dream of futures beyond the walls that imprison them.


The Spirit of Resistance


In Gaza, resistance takes many forms. While the international media often focuses on rockets fired into Israel, the broader picture is one of cultural, political, and everyday resistance against occupation and injustice.


Armed Resistance


Groups like Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others have long justified armed struggle as a legitimate response to occupation and aggression. While their tactics—especially rocket attacks on civilian areas—are widely condemned, they are supported by many Palestinians who view them as one of the few means of asserting dignity and retaliating against overwhelming Israeli military power.


But the asymmetry is stark. Gaza’s fighters are up against one of the most technologically advanced militaries in the world. Each round of fighting results in massive civilian casualties and infrastructure devastation. Yet the cycle continues, fueled by decades of unresolved grievances and international inaction.


Civil Disobedience and Grassroots Activism


Beyond armed resistance, there is a quieter but equally powerful form of defiance. Artists paint murals on bombed-out buildings. Teachers continue to educate children in tent schools. Human rights organizations document abuses at great personal risk. Youth-run media outlets and photographers share Gaza’s story with the world, even as they face censorship, drone strikes, and arrest.


One of the most iconic examples was the Great March of Return in 2018-2019, where thousands of unarmed Gazans protested near the border fence, demanding their right to return to ancestral homes and an end to the blockade. The protests were met with sniper fire, resulting in the deaths of over 200 people and the injury of thousands. Still, they marked a significant moment in Gaza’s history—an assertion that resistance does not always come with a weapon.


Humanitarian Crisis and International Response


The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. According to the United Nations, over 80% of the population relies on aid to survive. Unemployment hovers above 50%, and for youth, it’s even higher. Malnutrition, trauma, and mental health disorders are rampant, especially among children who have lived through multiple wars.


International organizations like UNRWA, the Red Crescent, and Médecins Sans Frontières provide critical support, but they are overwhelmed and underfunded. Access to the wounded and displaced is often delayed due to military operations, blocked crossings, and destroyed infrastructure.


The global response has been tepid at best. While many governments express concern, few take concrete action to end the blockade or hold parties accountable for war crimes. The United States continues to provide Israel with military aid, and peace initiatives have repeatedly failed due to lack of trust, political fragmentation, and asymmetric power dynamics.


The Psychological Toll


Perhaps the most insidious impact of Gaza’s endless war is on the psyche of its people. Entire generations have grown up knowing nothing but conflict, siege, and despair. Children play “war” games using stones and makeshift guns. The sound of drones overhead is a constant background noise. Parents struggle to provide a sense of safety in a place where safety doesn’t exist.


Mental health professionals report a sharp rise in PTSD, depression, and suicidal ideation—especially among youth. Yet the availability of psychological services is minimal. Many families rely on traditional methods of coping—faith, family support, and cultural resilience—to survive emotionally.


Women and Children: Bearing the Brunt


Women in Gaza carry a disproportionate burden in times of war and peace. As caregivers, they must provide stability for their families under impossible conditions. Many have lost children, husbands, or homes, yet they continue to act as the backbone of society.


Children, meanwhile, are among the most vulnerable. UNICEF has repeatedly warned of a “childhood in crisis” in Gaza. Malnutrition, trauma, lack of access to education, and displacement have robbed hundreds of thousands of their basic rights. A 10-year-old in Gaza may have lived through four wars already.


And yet, even here, there is resilience. Girls are excelling in school despite bombed-out classrooms. Women are organizing community kitchens, shelters, and health clinics. In the darkest hours, the spirit of survival burns brightest in those least expected.


Cultural Resilience


Gaza’s cultural identity is a source of immense pride. Dabke dance performances, poetry readings, calligraphy, and traditional embroidery serve as both a connection to history and a form of protest. The Palestinian flag is painted on walls, flown from rooftops, and stitched into wedding dresses.


Despite war, artists continue to create. Writers publish stories of life amid rubble. Musicians compose songs of longing and hope. This cultural production is not just art—it is resistance against erasure, a statement that Gaza is more than a war zone.


Looking Ahead: Is There Hope?


The question of hope in Gaza is a complicated one. On the ground, despair is palpable. The destruction is immense, the blockade persists, and the political situation remains gridlocked. Yet in every destroyed home that is rebuilt, in every child who picks up a pencil, in every mother who bakes bread for her family amid scarcity—there is hope.


Peace will not come easily. It will require accountability for war crimes, a lifting of the blockade, recognition of Palestinian rights, and an honest reckoning with history. It will also demand that the international community move beyond rhetoric and towards action.


But even without peace, Gaza continues. And that, in itself, is a powerful form of resistance.


Conclusion


The story of Gaza is not just one of tragedy—it is also one of immense strength. In the face of overwhelming odds, its people have refused to surrender their dignity, their identity, or their dreams. They live, love, create, and resist—often with the world watching silently.


“Sumud”—steadfastness—is a word often used by Palestinians to describe their defiance. Gaza embodies this concept to its fullest. It stands as a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure—and to resist—not just with arms, but with life itself.


As long as Gaza breathes, the world cannot say it did not know. The challenge now is whether the world will choose to care enough to act.