For many families in Gaza, providing basic clothing for their children has become a daily battle. Linda Ma’rouf, 50, describes the grim reality: “We’re not asking for anything new, just enough to cover us.” The ongoing blockade and military operations have sent prices soaring and emptied the shelves of affordable clothes and shoes.

Unable to find new items within her means, Ma’rouf repairs her children’s worn garments and patches their shoes, stretching each piece as long as possible. “I went to buy two outfits for my youngest, only to find a sports uniform priced at 45 shekels, it used to cost five,” she recounts. Rising costs and disrupted imports have left families with few alternatives, forcing children to walk barefoot under the scorching sun.

Local manufacturing has also suffered, with factories destroyed or production halted since October 2023. Even second-hand stores offer little relief, says Shaimaa al-Hissi, who has tried sewing clothes from leftover fabric but finds it inadequate. “Our clothes are always dirty. There’s no electricity for washing and not enough water,” she adds.

In displacement camps, children wear makeshift footwear from scraps of cloth or torn blankets. As the blockade continues, Gaza’s civilians confront not only hunger and danger but also the loss of basic dignity, a simple pair of shoes or a clean garment has become a luxury.