Gaza’s New Year survival struggle: hunger, grief, and uncertainty

International Desk: PNN

Even with the new year, displaced Palestinians in Gaza have no celebrations or moments of relief. Sitting in a temporary tent with her children, 41-year-old Sana Isa tries to pass quiet moments amidst continuous rain, wet blankets, and fear of hunger.

The declared ceasefire has had no real effect on Sana’s life. She said, “We don’t know what to blame for this misery—war, cold, or hunger. As soon as one crisis ends, another begins.”

Sana is a mother of seven. After losing her husband in an Israeli attack in November 2024, she has been solely responsible for her children. She fled the Bureij area and now shelters in Deir al-Balah. She said managing food, water, and decision-making is entirely on her shoulders.

In 2025, her greatest challenge was obtaining even a single piece of bread each day. Securing one kilogram of flour during blockade and famine became a near-impossible struggle. She recalled, “My only thought when waking up was to find bread for my children.”

Hunger forced her to visit risky aid distribution centers, supported by the U.S. and Israel, where thousands of Palestinians lost their lives. Sana herself was injured by shelling once, and on another occasion, her teenage daughter was shot.