A Palestinian researcher from Gaza, specializing in English literature and translation. Despite war, displacement, and the destruction of her university, she continues her academic journey under siege, refusing to let her voice or her dreams be silenced. X: @GhadaRozzi
In the wake of the regional war and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, daily life for ordinary residents has become a struggle against disorder rather than the supposed promise of recovery. The collapse of economic systems, scarcity of essential goods and breakdown of everyday social norms are producing an environment in which lawlessness and predatory practices are endemic. While these conditions are often described as internal consequences of war, they are also closely tied to external constraints — particularly Israeli military operations and restrictions that have negatively shaped Gaza's economic and humanitarian landscape.
Human rights organizations say the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure — including administrative systems — reflects a broader pattern aimed at making the territory increasingly unlivable. This pattern amounts to and continues Israel's genocide in Gaza. Beyond political headlines, the increasing absence of normal legal and economic structures, even the repressive structures operated by Hamas, has shaped a harsh new reality for civilians.
Beyond political headlines, the increasing absence of normal legal and economic structures, even the repressive structures operated by Hamas, has shaped a harsh new reality for civilians.
- Ghada Al-Rozzi:
In the months following the so-called the October 2025 ceasefire, Gaza's economy was described by local commerce officials as "on the brink of total collapse." Prolonged Israeli blockades, alongside war with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have driven basic commodity prices far beyond normal levels, with staple goods increasing by hundreds of percentage points. Israeli control over border crossings and the flow of commercial and humanitarian supplies has significantly limited market availability, contributing to both scarcity and price volatility.
The soaring cost of living was not simply a side effect of scarcity. Rather, it became a symptom of a market without regulation, oversight or consumer protection. For many families, income has either disappeared or lost much of its value, further widening the gap between wages and survival costs.
This economic breakdown has fueled the growth of what analysts describe as a "shadow economy." In this informal system, essential goods are often hoarded, sold privately and transported outside of formal channels. Middlemen and informal cash brokers have stepped in to fill the vacuum left by destroyed institutions, charging commission rates as high as 40% to facilitate access to cash — the lifeblood of any functioning economy.
The destruction of banking infrastructure during Israeli airstrikes, combined with limits on fuel and electricity, has further disrupted formal financial systems, forcing residents into costly and unregulated alternatives. With banks damaged or inoperable and electronic payment systems unreliable, cash itself has become a scarce and costly commodity.
Perhaps the most visible sign of this breakdown is the extraordinarily high prices charged for food and relief items. Aid that was meant to be distributed freely — including flour, lentils and cooking supplies — is often diverted and resold by gangs and opportunistic merchants at prices far beyond the reach of most Palestinians in Gaza. In some cases, a kilogram of flour has reached prices equivalent to tens of U.S. dollars — an amount unattainable for most households.
These patterns have not only deepened poverty — they have fueled social tensions. Accounts from Gaza describe scenes in which limited aid deliveries trigger chaotic scrambles rather than organized distribution, sometimes resulting in crowds overrunning transport vehicles. Such incidents underscore a broader erosion of public order and the public's ongoing and worsening desperation.
The degradation of Gaza's internal security apparatus is not incidental but has contributed to a governance vacuum in which lawlessness can flourish.
- Ghada Al-Rozzi:
Resource scarcity and the absence of effective regulation have also contributed and grown in parallel to an increase in petty crime. In the fragile social conditions that prevail, exacerbated by ongoing military pressure and limited administrative capacity, theft and opportunistic violence have been reported with growing frequency as individuals and families compete for dwindling supplies. The erosion of law enforcement capacity has compounded this trend, with repeated Israeli strikes killing or incapacitating police personnel and weakening already fragile law enforcement structures. While comprehensive crime data remains limited, aid workers and residents cite the frequent theft of basic necessities, including food, fuel and cooking supplies.
The degradation of Gaza's internal security apparatus is not incidental but has contributed to a governance vacuum in which lawlessness can flourish. By undermining institutions responsible for maintaining order, these actions have made it significantly more difficult for civilians to safely access aid and basic services. The targeting of police and restrictions on aid flows have created conditions intended to pressure civilians into leaving, raising concerns about Israeli plans to forcibly displace the population.
The psychological toll is profound. Communities already traumatized by years of war now live in a state of persistent uncertainty and fear. The typical markers of daily life — stable food prices, predictable shops, reliable access to cash — no longer exist in many parts of the territory. Instead, residents navigate a landscape where scarcity and competition shape everyday interactions.
In this context, the absence of functioning legal frameworks and policing capacity means markets operate under informal rules rather than law. Without mechanisms to control profiteering, enforce contracts or protect consumers, informal actors — from gangs to unscrupulous merchants — dominate essential services. This systemic failure deepens dependence on external aid while eroding the social cohesion necessary for long-term recovery.
Ultimately, the conditions defining life in Gaza are not incidental byproducts of war but the result of sustained Israeli policies that have devastated infrastructure, weakened policing and governance and severely restricted the flow of goods and humanitarian aid. The deliberate erosion of the systems necessary for civilian survival has fostered lawlessness, driven the inaccessibility of basic necessities and rendered daily life increasingly unlivable. Taken together, these actions amount to genocide: The systematic destruction of the conditions necessary for life, forcing civilians into deprivation, insecurity and, for many, displacement.
The views and positions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of DAWN.
