Gaza: Reality Beyond the Surface~ 12 min

By Abdallah Qudaih

Abdallah Qudaih is a young Palestinian writer. He’s just 17 years old, but he already published a book, that you can buy here – and, thus, help him survive the ongoing genocide. More ways to support Abdallah at the end of the article. Pictures also by Abdallah Qudaih.

Gaza is often described through a simplified narrative: resilience, survival, and endurance. While these elements are real, they do not fully represent the complexity of life on the ground. The current reality in Gaza is shaped by a constant contradiction between visible normality and underlying instability. 

After periods of relative calm, there is a noticeable return of social and economic activity. People begin to go out again. Cafés and restaurants reopen, some newly established and others rebuilt after destruction. Small businesses emerge, and public spaces regain a sense of movement. This visible recovery can give the impression that life is stabilizing. 

However, this perception is incomplete. The apparent normality does not eliminate the structural challenges people continue to face. Basic necessities such as water and electricity remain inconsistent. Economic conditions are fragile, and many families are still recovering from loss and damage with limited resources. This creates a situation where people participate in daily life while simultaneously managing ongoing hardship.

In parallel, there is a significant psychological dimension that is less visible but equally impactful. Continuous exposure to instability leads to accumulated stress, uncertainty, and mental fatigue. Individuals operate under persistent pressure, even during calm periods. Planning for the future becomes difficult when the present itself is unpredictable.

For many, the concept of long-term stability is replaced by short-term adaptation. Despite these constraints, individuals continue to initiate projects and attempt economic participation. Opening a small business or restoring a damaged one is not necessarily an indication of stability, but rather a response to necessity.

These efforts reflect a form of practical resilience, an attempt to maintain functionality within a constrained environment. However, these initiatives often face systemic limitations. Restricted resources, limited opportunities, and an unstable market environment reduce the likelihood of long-term sustainability.

Another critical aspect is the social impact of these conditions. Families are under continuous pressure to meet basic needs. Young people face uncertainty regarding education and employment. Students attempt to continue their studies in an environment that lacks consistency and support. This affects not only economic outcomes but also personal development and future opportunities.

How Students’ Dreams Are Broken Silently

Not all dreams are broken loudly. Some are broken in silence, without anyone noticing.

There are students who stop studying not because they do not want to, but because they cannot. Not because they have lost passion, but because circumstances have taken away their ability to continue.

We often think that only big obstacles end dreams, but the truth is that very small things can be enough to break a student from within. A notebook, a pen, a book, or even private lessons fees, things that may seem small to some, but for a student they can be the difference between continuing or stopping.

When a student does not have basic supplies, a feeling of helplessness slowly begins to grow inside them. They sit in class knowing they cannot keep up with others. They see their classmates writing, studying, progressing… while they are just trying not to show their weakness.

Over time, it is not only poverty that breaks them, but the feeling. The feeling of being less, of being unable, of being behind. They begin to fall silent, to withdraw, and to lose confidence in themselves.

And this is where the real breaking begins.

It does not happen in one day, and it is not a clear decision. It happens gradually, step by step. Motivation decreases, participation decreases, and studying becomes a burden instead of an opportunity.

Many of these students once had big dreams. They wanted to become doctors, engineers, teachers. But these dreams were not killed because they were incapable, but because they never found a supportive environment.

The problem is that this type of suffering is not easily seen. No one pays attention to a student who does not have a notebook or cannot pay for a private lesson. No one hears this kind of pain, because it is not spoken out loud.

But it exists… and it repeats every day.

And when we ignore these small details, we are not ignoring a small issue, we are ignoring an entire future.

That is why supporting a student does not start only with big things, but with the basics. Providing the tools that make them feel capable, included, and that they get a real chance like others.

When you give a student a pen, you are not just giving them an object. You are giving them a chance to write, to learn, to dream.

And when you support them, you are not only helping their present, you are protecting their future from being silently broken.

There is another side that is not spoken about often… the feeling a student experiences when they are forced to ask.

To ask a friend for a pen, or wait for someone to give them a notebook, or apologize for missing a private lesson because they cannot afford the fees. These small situations may seem normal to some, but they leave a deep impact on the student.

Over time, it is no longer just about materials. It becomes about dependence on others. The student starts to feel like a burden, different from their classmates.

And this feeling can sometimes be harder than poverty itself.

Because the student is not only losing the chance to learn, but also losing confidence in themselves.

Sometimes, the student chooses to withdraw on their own. Not because they do not want to study, but because they can no longer bear this feeling. They prefer silence over explaining their situation, and withdrawal over feeling less than others.

And here, the problem becomes deeper than a lack of tools, it becomes a silent psychological struggle.

The surrounding environment also plays a major role. When a student lives in a place full of pressure, instability, and limited resources, focusing on studies becomes a challenge in itself. Their mind is occupied with basic concerns: How can I help my family? How can I survive? How do I deal with this reality?

In such conditions, dreams become a luxury.

And yet, there are students who still try. They hold on to their dreams despite everything. But without support, these attempts may not last long.

That is why we are not only talking about providing simple aid, but about restoring hope. About creating an environment where the student feels they are not alone, and that someone sees and understands them.

Real support is not only about giving tools, but about rebuilding the student’s sense that they are capable, and that their future has not been closed yet.

Dignity vs Need

This is part of a quiet struggle that many people never talk about. It doesn’t appear in photos, and it doesn’t always sound loud, but it is heavy. It is the struggle between dignity and need.

When life becomes difficult, people assume that asking for help is the simplest solution. From the outside, it looks easy: if you need something, just ask. But from the inside, it is not that simple.

There is something inside a person that resists asking. Not because of pride in a negative way, but because of a deep sense of dignity. A feeling that you should be able to stand on your own, to provide, to carry your responsibilities without having to reach out your hand.

I have felt this deeply.

There were times when my family truly needed support, and I knew that asking for help was an option. But every time I thought about it, something held me back. Not fear of rejection, but a quiet discomfort. A feeling that I didn’t want to be seen only as someone in need.

This is the part many people don’t understand. Need is not just material; it is emotional too. And dignity is not a luxury, it is something people hold on to, especially when everything else feels uncertain.

So, I started to think differently.

Instead of asking for help directly, I wanted to create something. Something real. Something that represents me. That’s why I decided to write and publish my book.

It wasn’t just about money. It was about finding a way to stand with some balance between dignity and need. To say: “I am going through something difficult, but I still have something to offer.”

This small shift made a big difference in how I felt.

Selling something I created, even if simple, gave me a sense of control, and a sense of respect for myself. It changed the feeling from “I am asking” to “I am sharing”.

And when people chose to support, it felt different. It felt like connection, not charity.

This is not to say that asking for help is wrong. Sometimes, it is necessary. And there is strength in being honest about your needs. But at the same time, we should understand that, for many people, this step is not easy at all.

Behind every person who hesitates to ask there is a story. There are thoughts, emotions, and a desire to hold onto dignity, even in the hardest moments.

What people need is not just support, but understanding. Not just giving, but respect.

Because, in the end, dignity and need are not enemies. They can exist together, if we learn how to see each other as human beings first, not just as someone who gives, and someone who receives.

In Gaza, this conflict appears even more clearly and in a more complex way. Although Gaza is known for its difficult conditions and the fact that most people are genuinely in need of support, the reality is not just one simple picture. There are people who try their best to preserve their dignity and avoid becoming fully dependent on aid, even in the hardest circumstances. At the same time, there is another issue involving some unverified accounts or pages, and sometimes unclear or untrustworthy organizations, as well as individuals from outside Gaza, who may claim need and misuse humanitarian sympathy in misleading ways.

This creates confusion and lack of clarity, and it makes some people hesitant or uncertain about where their support is actually going. This is the real problem, because it does not only affect trust, but it may also prevent honest people, truly in need, from receiving the help they urgently require.

That is why it is important to be more aware and balanced, to ensure that support reaches those who truly need it, while also preserving dignity and avoiding turning aid into something random or unorganized. The real purpose of support is not only to give, but to help people stand back on their feet without losing their sense of value or independence.

In conclusion…

Understanding Gaza requires moving beyond surface-level observations. It is not sufficient to interpret visible activity as recovery. Instead, it is necessary to recognize the coexistence of two realities: ongoing effort and ongoing strain.

Gaza is not defined solely by crisis, nor solely by resilience. It is defined by the interaction between both. People are not only surviving, and they are not fully recovering, they are navigating a complex and unstable reality, where every step forward exists alongside persistent challenges.

A complete understanding requires acknowledging both dimensions: what is visible, and what continues behind it.

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Abdallah Qudaih is a 17-year-old Palestinian writer. You can support him by buying his book, an overwhelming account of his experience during the ongoing genocide, or by making a transfer to PayPal. Abdallah is also part of a local initiative, launched just a few days ago, aimed at supporting students in need to continue their studies – support them here.