Since the onset of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Israel's decision to cut off electricity and prevent fuel from entering the territory has plunged the Gaza Strip into total darkness. Citizens, like Abdul Rahman Mahna, face the daily struggle of trying to charge their phones and batteries to light up their tents in overcrowded camps. The ongoing blackout has paralyzed daily life, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis caused by the war, blockade, and siege.

The lack of electricity impacts all aspects of life, from the inability to charge phones and access the internet to disruptions in water pumping. Solar energy systems, though used to mitigate the effects, are often too expensive and ineffective, especially during the winter months when sunlight is scarce. For students like Maysaa Al-Diraoui, the blackout makes distance learning nearly impossible, hindering their ability to complete assignments and tests on time.

In addition to the educational challenges, families are struggling with basic needs like washing clothes and accessing critical services. Mohammed Al-Bayram, in Khan Yunis, has launched a project to charge phones and batteries for his community, but even such small efforts are dependent on the fleeting availability of sunlight.

The blackout, along with the continuous violence and displacement, has left Gaza's residents in a constant state of despair, fighting not only for their lives but for the most basic means to sustain them.