Queues are a daytime and nighttime presence in Gaza, following people around. The displaced are forced to endure protracted waits that seem to sap their strength as they linger like family members, taking up both waking and nightmare hours.

Even simple necessities like using the restroom in refugee camps involve standing in long lines. The wait is uncertain and can be influenced by good fortune or bad luck, particularly when kids have an urgent need to urinate. It is difficult to explain such suffering to a child.

In addition, lines are unavoidable when looking for meals. With empty pockets, many line up at aid organizations hoping for scarce flour, but success is rare. The alternative is borrowing from neighbors or going into debt, just to get a little flour for bread. But even after this, the wait continues at bakeries or clay ovens for the barest sustenance.

For the displaced, who often have no family left, these lines are endless. Whether for food, water, or aid, the queues are a daily reminder of their helplessness. In the midst of this struggle, they find no rest, as the cycle of waiting starts anew with each day.