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Months of displacement and migration have forced Gaza's residents to face an unknown future, seeking refuge in areas that are currently unliveable.

Yet, despite the overwhelming destruction, many Palestinians returned to their shattered homes, and are not only struggling with the challenges of rebuilding their lives but also face a battle to survive in a land torn apart by Israel's genocidal war.

For Yahya Abdul Rahman, who returned to the Al-Rimal neighbourhood in Gaza City with his five-member family, it is an exercise in harsh reality.Ìý

"When we returned, my wife cried in front of the remains of our house," he recalled to °®Âþµº.Ìý"I tried to comfort her, saying we are only here to survive. But the truth is, we have nothing left. At night, we sleep on the cold floor in a room without a roof, and by morning, we are searching for something, anything, to cook."Ìý

Abdul Rahman hopes for a better tomorrow, but deep down, he knows that hope alone will not be enough.

The 15-month-long Israeli genocidal war devastated Gaza. People will see destruction, sadness and an unknown future wherever they move.ÌýMoreover, the Israeli army killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, the majority of which were women and children.

A perpetual state of fear

In northern Gaza, where homes have been reduced to rubble and memories of past wars linger, the situation is very dire.Ìý

Mahmoud Salem, who returned to Beit Lahia, faces a daily struggle to live.

"Every time I try to restore part of the house, I am forced to stop because I lack the money and the tools," he told TNA.Ìý"Life here is a daily battle. We have no water, no electricity, no access to hospitals. Every day is spent searching for food in one place and a safe place to sleep in another. The water is polluted, and the food barely lasts until the next day."

What makes him extremely sad is that his children have no place to play. "When will they live like the other children? We have nothing but hope, and even that seems to be fading," Salem said.Ìý

In the southern cities of Khan Younis and Rafah, the situation is pretty much the same, with families living in makeshift camps and extreme poverty has become the norm.Ìý

During the war, the Israeli army killed the husband of Umm Sami, a woman in Rafah, leaving her alone to face against the dire situation.Ìý

"Things have got worse since my husband was killed," she said, her voice trembling. "I cannot even promise my children the simplest things. With barely any aid, I can only provide enough food for one day, and even then, it's too little, too late. My children ask for things we used to take for granted, such as milk and sugar, and all I can do is tell them stories of a better time."

Living in a tent has become a painful new normal for Umm Sami. "We sleep in the tent as if we are in another world. The days pass quickly, but we never know what tomorrow will bring. We might lose our tent, or we might have to move again. But we keep looking for anything that will help us survive," she described.Ìý

Farid Abu Jarbou, a father from Rafah, sums up the sentiment of many Palestinians in the coastal enclave.Ìý

"I wake up every morning hoping to find work but return empty-handed. By evening, we are lucky to have a small portion of rice or lentils on the table, but we know it won't last. Time is stretching out, and our hope is growing thinner," he said.Ìý

Furthermore, Palestinian children in Gaza live in a perpetual state of anxiety and fear. For Rania Abu Hamda, a 35-year-old mother of three who has returned to the ruins of her neighbourhood of al-Zeitoun in Gaza City, the struggle to meet even the most basic needs is heartbreaking.Ìý

"My children constantly ask me about school and toys, and all I can do is lie to them, telling them they will come back one day. I see their eyes, and I feel helpless. I cannot even give them the things they need most," she said toÌýTNA.Ìý

For the children of Gaza themselves, who have known nothing but war and poverty, the notion of dreaming of a better life is a distant luxury.

"I want to go to school and play in the park with my friends, but whenever I ask my mother, she says, 'Not now'. We are just waiting for this time to pass," remarked Faten Abed, a ten-year-old girl from the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip.ÌýÌý

Spirit to live remains unbroken

The devastation in Gaza has drawn the attention of international humanitarian organisations, who sounded the alarm over the massive humanitarian catastrophe.Ìý

"Gaza has become one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with over two million people suffering from severe shortages of food, water, and electricity. The healthcare system is on the verge of collapse due to the lack of medical supplies and equipment. Meanwhile, families are falling deeper into poverty, with the infrastructure nearly destroyed," the UN said in a recent press statement.Ìý

For its part, Human Rights Watch reports that more than 70 per cent of Gaza's population lives below the poverty line, with many depending entirely on aid to survive.Ìý

"Many children in Gaza are suffering severe psychological trauma from the ongoing conflict and need long-term mental health care, as well as social and educational support," the organisation said.

Amid the devastation, the people of Gaza continue to resist. Families, especially women, tirelessly work to provide for their children, finding ways to cope with the unimaginable.Ìý

In one of the destroyed neighbourhoods in Gaza City, a group of women gathers around a small table under a tree, preparing food in the most difficult of circumstances.Ìý

Suhaila Ayash, a mother of three, told TNA, "We cook whatever we can, just some rice and vegetables. We sing with the children when the evening comes to ease their pain. We have nothing but hope, and I know that this hope will keep us going."

Despite everything, Palestinians remain determined to stay in their land. Suhaila, ever resilient, added, "We may not live in luxury now, but we once did before the war. One day, Gaza will be rebuilt, and we will live here, on our land, without having to leave."