Across the Gaza Strip, the geography of daily life is being redrawn as Israeli forces press further beyond a newly imposed boundary, tightening control in the north while striking areas in the south. Neighbourhoods on the eastern edge of Gaza City have seen fresh ground taken, with families pushed into ever narrower pockets. Movement along the main north–south artery has become perilous, prompting renewed waves of flight by people who had already been displaced multiple times.

In the south, fire from land and air has resumed around Rafah and Khan Younis, unsettling communities already living under tents as winter storms worsen conditions. Shelters buckle under rain and cold, and overcrowding has intensified in districts where the population has doubled or tripled. With homes unreachable and services scarce, the struggle for water, food and warmth has become more acute as the genocidal war grinds on.

Beyond the immediate fighting, the pressure is compounded by restrictions on humanitarian relief. Aid convoys remain stalled at crossings, with only limited supplies allowed through, fuelling hunger and illness. The possible reopening of the Rafah crossing has stirred fragile hopes for medical access for the sick and wounded, alongside fears that departure could become permanent. Since a pause in fighting was announced months ago, deaths have continued, adding to the staggering toll recorded since October 2023 in what many describe as a prolonged genocide.