There is a sad joke in Gaza: What is the difference between a dead Gazan and a live Gazan? The dead one can go anywhere.
No article discussing being can ignore the periodic violence. Every few years—2012, 2014, 2021, 2023—the sirens wail. The Israeli military terms its operations "mowing the grass." For those living in the grass, it is an apocalypse.
Education is fetishized here. Families who have lost their homes will spend their last shekel on school uniforms and notebooks. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) runs over 200 schools in the strip. Desks are often cracked; classrooms hold 50 students instead of 30. Yet, year after year, Gazan students rank among the top in the region for test scores. Born in Gaza
High school (Tawjihi) is a battlefield. The streets are quiet during exam week. Parents hold their breath. A top score isn't just a grade; it is a ticket out—a scholarship to Qatar, Turkey, or Malaysia. It is the only legal way to leave the strip for most young people. For young women , education is often the only shield against child marriage and generational poverty.
However, living in Gaza is not without its risks. I have experienced several wars and outbreaks of violence, and I have had to flee my home on multiple occasions. The psychological impact of living in a war zone should not be underestimated – many people in Gaza suffer from PTSD and other mental health issues. There is a sad joke in Gaza: What
A childhood in Gaza is one of scavenging. The beaches are beautiful—white sand and turquoise water—but you are warned not to swim too far out, or you might hit the "naval buffer zone." Abandoned houses that were destroyed in 2014 or 2021 become playgrounds. Jumping from one broken concrete slab to another is the local version of parkour.
“But here’s what they don’t tell you: Gaza children don’t cry at the sound of thunder. They learn to name missiles like other kids name birds.” Every few years—2012, 2014, 2021, 2023—the sirens wail
"I was born in Gaza in the 1980s, and I've lived here my entire life," they told us. "Growing up in Gaza was a challenging experience, but it was also a time of great hope and optimism. Many people in Gaza believed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be resolved, and that we would be able to live in peace and security.
The phrase has taken on a more literal and tragic meaning as thousands of infants are currently being born into what international agencies describe as "hellish" conditions.
, with an estimated 20,000 infants born into active conflict zones where basic medical care is a luxury.
