What’s happening:

In the wake of Israel’s military confrontation with Hamas that commenced on October 7, over one million Palestinians from Gaza have been displaced, with many seeking refuge in the border town of Rafah. Among these are five families who have found shelter in a chicken farm, adapting battery coops into makeshift living spaces.

Why it matters:

The dramatic upsurge in displaced individuals underscores the extensive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The scope of displacement reveals both the intensity of the conflict and the resulting hardships for the civilian population, including housing shortages that push families into inhabitable conditions.

The human impact:

For the Hanoon family, the chicken farm represents a dire condition, emblematic of descending “close to rock bottom,” as described by Umm Mahdi Hanoon. Her family, amongst others, now reside among conditions designed for livestock, bearing cold and discomfort that deeply affect the vulnerable, including children and the elderly.

The backdrop:

Originating from the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, heavily afflicted in the initial stages of the conflict, families such as the Hanoon’s fled to safer areas, only to find uncertainties everywhere, finally seeking shelter at a chicken farm in Rafah – a narrative which punctuates the broader displacement phenomenon within Gaza.

Military action:

In response to the significant Hamas attack on October 7, where 1,200 people were reportedly killed and 253 taken as hostages, Israel pledged to halt Hamas’ power in Gaza, setting in motion airstrikes and ground offenses.

Casualties and claims:

The ongoing conflict has resulted in the declaration of over 27,800 fatalities by the Hamas-governed Gaza health ministry, a figure that Israel disputes, suggesting the inclusion of Hamas combatants as well as collateral damage from Hamas’ own misfired rockets. Conversely, the IDF claims to have neutralized around 11,000 terrorists within both Gaza and Israel.

The aftermath:

The critical circumstances in Rafah, reflexive of the condition throughout the Gaza Strip, continues to question the durability of many Gazans amid a chaotic and unstable environment. For families like the Hanoon’s, sighting livestock accommodations as their current residence, ensures the conflict’s injurious reach impacts beyond immediate violence, permeating basic human living standards.

This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.