From October 2023 to May 2024, the basic activities of my life were dictated by two things: Israeli bombs and my family's endless battle to escape them. Every morning was consumed by trying to find food or warmth for my child- tasks that should have been simple but became nearly impossible as Israel's 'complete siege' of Gaza took its toll.
When he begged me for food, I had nothing but expired cans of whatever could be scavenged in the north of Gaza to give him. Watching my son eat expired food, his fragile body growing weaker, broke me.
My son, who was then two-and-a-half, cried for water constantly. His small voice was cracked from thirst, but most of the time, I had none to give him.
I tried to convince my body that this should be enough. Cooking the food we could find was a battle in itself. With no gas, I had to rely on firewood. The smoke stung my eyes and choked my lungs.
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