My Life in the Gaza Strip: 'We Used Our Copy of Nineteen Eighty-Four to Bake Bread. What Would George Orwell Think of Us Now?'
Karim, a qualified medical professional in his twenties, is originally from Gaza City. Before the latest evacuation directive from Israeli authorities, he resided amid the destruction of his former home alongside his parents and brothers. He has now been displaced over a dozen times due to the war and survived an aerial bombardment in Rafah. He kept a journal over the past month.
17 August 2025
After two years, I've abandoned optimism. I doubt the news about the war ending. My dad insists we must relocate to central Gaza quickly, prior to they force us out again. If it were another group, the United Nations might have intervened. But for Palestinians, nothing. Now they propose relocating us to South Sudan β a land racked by civil war, already full of displaced people. There are 2 million of us, confined in less than 20 sq km, just facing gradual death. And the world will remain indifferent. An ex-prime minister remarked, "We will perhaps in time forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be more difficult for us to forgive them for making us to end their children's lives." That sums it up. At times, I think the state should be studied by psychologists β perhaps then the global audience would finally understand the insanity we endure.
18 August 2025
I caught a ride to Deir al-Balah with a friend β it seemed like an bold move: vehicles modified to transport more passengers, trailers clinging on like rescue vessels. You cling tightly with everything you have, because if you don't, you could tumble onto the open road and be left behind.
Close to al-Nabulsi Square I saw a "hizam nari" β a line of flames across the heavens. Military aircraft created a trail of explosions above Gaza City, one after another; ash clouds ascended and everything below them was erased. I tallied five, six rockets β then gave up counting because counting felt useless. I have to find refuge for my family β an flat, a shed, whatever space available. My thoughts wander, I forget things, I forget plans β the chaos steals them. All I feel is a tight, small panic and the empty wish that we will survive the following day.
19 August 2025
The day before, I finally managed to secure a storage space β around $400, about Β£335 a month. That's the cheapest you can locate, because demand is high while houses and buildings are destroyed completely. This "garage" has barely any cover. The landlord even proposed a small flat for over $600 β frankly, even a luxury apartment in Dubai is that expensive. In wars and crises people grow hostile, self-centered, looking to benefit from the suffering of others. And perhaps that's "normal", or instead the predictable conduct of a person who has endured 24 months of forced displacement, expulsion, famine β especially inside the biggest open-air jail.
So I began setting up my temporary dwelling β sweeping, organizing, attempting to create a habitable space. I cannot allow myself even a second to reflect on my previous bedroom before the genocide, my box-spring bed, my gaming desk, the cooling unit, our house β¦ I cannot let longing to consume me. I just keep moving. Onward, onward β without glancing behind.
August 28, 2025
For a seven days now I've been without my parents. Despite what my dad said initially, they cling to hope β or to denial β thinking that all the back-and-forth between the Qataris, Americans, Egyptians and Israelis means the northern region won't be evacuated. So they refuse to leave. For two years the global powers has done as it pleases while we drown, and we grasp the tiniest false hopes β the little straws that allow us to survive. The harsh reality is the Israelis were never coy about their objectives: "We'll annihilate Gaza." They succeeded. "You will be moved." They accomplished that. "We will cut off food and water." They did. "We'll invade Rafah." All eyes turned there. A US leader objected β they did it anyway. What's the next step? Gaza City. It will be cleared, turn into ruins like Rafah. I'm stealing a brief respite now β a temporary calm I've earned.
9 September 2025
My parents are finally with me. We turned the garage into a dwelling β areas, a small personal zone. Of course the barriers are just vinyl sheets. I succeeded in accessing the internet for a short time. It has reached this point: the military has issued a forced displacement order for the entire northern region, encompassing the western part. People have no energy, no money, no will to leave their homes β numerous individuals would rather die than depart.
This day our neighbor told us the forces attacked Qatar. Oh my god. They have no limits now. Qatar β with the biggest US installation in the Middle East β was reportedly hit by a power allied with the US. I believe it's clear what comes next and what it implies for Gaza's people: genocide until the last breath. They've been given carte blanche.
September 15, 2025
My mom's special day β one more quiet celebration under brutal conditions. Things have eased a little, but this is not the existence we were meant to live. My phone showed me images from her celebration three years ago: a handmade dessert and my favourite American treat. I recall giving her Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell β we used it as fuel for bread at the conclusion of that year because we had no fuel or timber to bake. What would Orwell think of us today? I prefer to think he'd understand our actions. I dried my eyes in private and kept going. The central area is getting fuller and fuller. People are worn out: they don't want to die, but a lot believe they are already dead.
I grasped my mom's palm, touched it lovingly, and whispered "Happy birthday". She has been sick for days. I penned a note and said sorry because I lack a penny for a dessert (which would cost about $70) or even a small gift.
September 21, 2025
Countries like the UK and the island continent have recognised Palestine as a state β what's the reason and for what purpose? Israel continues to bomb us, the genocide persists. But now we can officially die as a recognized nation, we have a state. How nice.
After all this suffering, numerous nations that have denied for almost 24 months that the organized eradication of a people was occurring in Gaza are suddenly speaking up. Celebrities and artists participate because it's now popular. Before, people would shrug and say, "Oh no, I don't know enough about the Middle East, it's too sensitive for me to comment." Hypocrites.
September 25, 2025
Identical harsh pattern, day after day β individuals perish from starvation, from debility, from the rockets that never stop. A individual nearby died recently. At first I thought it must have been the usual horror β a attack, a random shot. But no. He simply collapsed. His life ended. I still can't believe how ordinary his death felt, how quickly a existence can vanish and leave only a empty quiet. I was numbed, like I'd been anaesthetised to this type of tragedy and suddenly woke up.
My daily routine is a map of survival: fetch water, {scavenge for
