In Gaza, amid ongoing conflict and devastation, residents face daily struggles with limited resources, damaged infrastructure, and deep personal losses. One such individual, Alaa Hessi, a pregnant woman who lost her three children in an Israeli airstrike, illustrates the harsh realities confronting many in the territory.

Hessi’s home was destroyed in the attack that claimed the lives of her children Waseem, 10, Mohannad, seven, and Khawla, five. Now, she lives in a tent pitched on the remains of what was once her house. With roughly a month left before she gives birth, she contends both with physical hardship and emotional trauma.

Her days begin early, disturbed by ambient sounds including flies and neighbors’ activities. Privacy in the tent encampment is minimal, and safety remains a constant concern as Israeli military positions are visible nearby, from which occasional fire is reported. The blockade has severely restricted the entry of essential supplies such as cooking gas, forcing residents to rely on firewood and open flames for preparing meals.

Despite being eight months pregnant, Hessi performs physically demanding chores, including hand-washing clothes, and she endures the intense heat. She must also walk long distances to access prenatal care, which is provided not in fully equipped clinics but in makeshift tents amid bombed-out streets and temperatures reaching around 34 degrees Celsius.

Medical support, while available, is limited. Healthcare workers offer basic nutritional supplements and psychological advice, such as breathing exercises, but emotional support is often inadequate due to the overwhelming nature of the crisis. Hessi conceals the details of her past losses during clinic visits, recognizing that even medical staff are worn down by the situation’s scale and severity.

Daily life includes additional worries, including infestation by rats that enter the tents at night, posing health risks. Attempts to secure living spaces are ongoing but frequently unsuccessful, and concerns about using poisons highlight the difficult choices residents face.

Hessi emphasizes the profound indignity of living in these conditions, describing tent life as degrading and inhumane. Despite the hardships, she finds solace in conversations about her children with her husband. Together, they share their grief and support each other in a place marked both by loss and by enduring memories.

Her story reflects the broader human impact of the conflict in Gaza, where war and blockade have created dire humanitarian challenges for its population.