1,000 days after outbreak of war, Gazans still face humanitarian hardship despite ceasefire

GAZA, July 3– As the Gaza Strip marked 1,000 days since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023, many Palestinians say their daily struggle has shifted from surviving bombardment to coping with prolonged humanitarian and economic hardship.

Although a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025, living conditions in the Gaza Strip have shown little improvement, with shortages of food and water, widespread displacement, and stalled reconstruction continuing to dominate daily life.

Across Gaza City, people lined up for water deliveries, searched markets for scarce food supplies, and continued to live in makeshift shelters amid stalled reconstruction efforts.

“In the early days, we feared the airstrikes,” said Emad Abu Madlala, who has been living in a tent since his home was destroyed during the war. “Today, we are searching for the necessities of life. Getting clean water or a simple meal requires hours of waiting.”

Rawya Harara, a Gaza City-based mother of five whose husband was killed during the conflict, told Xinhua that providing food and water for her children has become an overwhelming daily challenge.