The ongoing conflict in Gaza has profoundly affected the lives of many men, altering their roles, responsibilities, and emotional well-being amid widespread displacement and loss. Several individuals shared how the war has transformed their personal and family circumstances, highlighting varying responses to the trauma and upheaval.

Ahmed, 39, who before the conflict was pursuing a PhD in fact-checking and held multiple jobs including radio presenter and researcher, described a complete disruption of his daily routine. Prior to the war, he found fulfillment in intellectual work and providing for his family. Since May 2024, following evacuation from the family home where he lived with his parents and siblings, Ahmed and his relatives have been living in tents. He emphasized the emotional toll of losing personal privacy in this new environment, saying it has created a silence within family relationships. “Before, the home was a private kingdom... Now life is communal and there’s no privacy,” he said, explaining that this has hindered open communication with his wife. He also conveyed a sense of diminished self-worth, noting that as a man, his identity had been tied to his achievements in work and study. Despite trying to reassure his children amid ongoing uncertainty, Ahmed struggles privately with the future.

Nidal, 40, formerly a small business owner in Gaza City, recounted the devastating impact the war has had on his family and livelihood. After an Israeli missile strike killed his sister-in-law and displaced his extended family, a subsequent airstrike on a school led to the death of his daughter Malek. Returning to the ruins of their home, Nidal and his family set up a tent under the collapsed roof of their apartment block. He described a profound sense of hopelessness and anger, lamenting that the war had taken everything from him: his child, home, and business. Nidal spoke candidly about his emotional state, saying, “I can’t stand anyone and can’t even stand myself,” and that he no longer feels able to provide for his family in any meaningful way.

Hussein, 24, a university technology student and former flat owner, recounted losing his home early in the conflict alongside injuries to his father and a prolonged hospital stay for his sister-in-law. Forced to start over, he found work repairing and selling phones, adapting quickly to his new circumstances. While initially feeling ashamed and uncertain about his future, Hussein expressed determination to rebuild. He acknowledged the difficulty of bringing a future spouse into the tent where he currently lives but remains hopeful about marriage and family life, emphasizing the role of Gaza’s youth in restoring their community.

Hamza, 22, a medical student from Jabaliya, shifted from studying to volunteering as an emergency frontline doctor amid the war. Despite the challenges of treating severe injuries with limited resources, he described his work as giving him purpose and considered his efforts heroic. Hamza spoke of a deepened bond with his family forged through shared hardship, highlighting increased love and respect. Whereas before the war he had planned to delay marriage until pursuing neurosurgery abroad, he now intends to start a family sooner, reflecting a common desire to reaffirm life amid widespread loss. “In war, when a person feels extinction, they are drawn to reproduce,” he said.

These personal accounts illustrate the multifaceted effects of the conflict on men in Gaza, encompassing emotional distress, disrupted roles, and shifting aspirations. The experiences reflect broader themes of loss, resilience, and the search for hope as families navigate the enduring impacts of war.