When the guns finally went quiet in Gaza, people stepped out from basements and tents for the first time after months. On this occasion, some cried, some smiled, and others simply looked at the sky in disbelief. There were small moments of celebration, too, in which children waved torn flags, men distributed bread, and women thanked God. However, behind every cheer stood loss. Nearly every street was filled with rubble, while every family was missing someone.
Even in ruins and a completely obliterated picture, Gaza’s people showed the world that their spirit remains unbroken.
The Scale of Destruction
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry figures verified by UN OCHA and international agencies, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Over 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.2 million people are displaced, many of them living in damaged schools or makeshift shelters.
A UN assessment shared by The Guardian reports that 92 percent of Gaza’s buildings and infrastructure have been destroyed or severely damaged, including hospitals, water systems, and almost all power stations. Even now, bulldozers and rescue teams continue to pull bodies from the debris. Hospitals that still function do so with little medicine and no electricity. Doctors use phone lights to perform emergency operations.
A Short Celebration of Life
When the ceasefire came into effect, people did what they could to feel alive again. In Rafah, small groups lit candles, sang patriotic songs, and shared dates. Children played football in alleys cleared of debris. Others tied white cloth to sticks and waved them as makeshift flags.
“It’s not victory,” said 28-year-old Ameer from Deir al-Balah.
“It’s a breath. We are just breathing again.”
For most, the joy lasted only a few hours. Soon they returned to what was left of their homes, collecting bricks, mattresses, and family photos. The ceasefire gave them time to count who survived.
Women Leading in Crisis
Across Gaza, women have taken the lead in rebuilding daily life. UN Women estimates that three of every four displaced Gazans are women and children.
In tent camps, mothers organize small cooking groups to share food and keep children occupied. They turn broken classrooms into play corners and burned courtyards into community kitchens.
One mother, Samira, said,
“I lost my husband, my house, and everything else. But if I lose hope too, my children will have nothing left.”
Her words sum up the quiet strength that holds Gaza together.
Children Without Schools
Gaza’s children are the face of both loss and endurance. UNICEF reports that about 17,000 children have been orphaned or separated from their families.
With 90 percent of schools damaged, formal education has stopped. Some volunteers now gather children under tents to read simple lessons or tell stories to distract them from fear. Many draw what they remember of their homes—blue skies, olive trees, and the sea.
Faith and Strength
Faith continues to guide daily life. Mosques may be in ruins, but prayers still take place in open spaces. People gather at sunset to recite verses from the Quran and pray for those who have died.
An imam from Khan Younis said, “We will rebuild because rebuilding is part of worship.” For many, faith provides structure in chaos and the belief that justice will come, even if slowly.
Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
The ceasefire has allowed limited aid to enter Gaza. According to sources, around 350 to 400 trucks of aid are entering daily, less than the promised 600.
Aid agencies warn that Gaza still faces a hunger emergency. The UN’s World Food Programme estimates that 1.8 million people are in critical need of food. Hospitals require fuel, and the water network is still mostly down.
The World and Gaza
Protests in more than 50 cities have demanded accountability and long-term peace. The truce, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, has created cautious optimism, but trust is fragile. International organizations call for independent investigations into alleged war crimes and for an end to the blockade that keeps aid limited.
Rebuilding will take years, maybe decades. Engineers estimate that full reconstruction could cost over $30 billion. However, Gazans have already started small repairs, clearing streets, patching walls, and re-planting gardens where possible.
Local radio stations, once silent, are broadcasting again using generators. Young people are sharing footage of survival on social media, determined to show that life continues. Every small act, a cleaned courtyard, a lit candle, a repaired door, is a declaration that Gaza still belongs to its people.
Key Takeaways
The ceasefire has not brought normal life, but it has brought a chance to begin again. Gaza stands today as a place of unimaginable loss and extraordinary courage. People celebrate the smallest victories: a family reunited, a neighbor found alive, a loaf of bread baked over fire.
The world sees a war zone, but Gazans see home. Their houses may be gone, but their faith, love, and unity remain.
