Living Conditions in the Gaza Strip Amidst the Israel-Palestinian Conflict

The Gaza Strip is a narrow strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea that is home to 2.2 million people. It is surrounded by Israel and Egypt and measures 41km long and 10km wide. Originally occupied by Egypt, Gaza was taken over by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the area in 2005. Since then, the region has been under the control of Hamas, a militant Islamist group that expelled forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority in 2007. Israel and Egypt have since imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, citing security reasons. Hamas, designated as a terrorist group by the US, EU, and UK, has engaged in conflicts with Israel and has launched rockets and carried out attacks against Israel. In response, Israel has launched air and artillery strikes on Gaza, causing significant casualties. The recent escalation in violence has further worsened the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with homes being destroyed, power outages, and shortages of food and water. The region also has limited access to medical care, and many people are living in poverty and unemployment rates are high. Gaza's population is young, with a significant percentage being under the age of 25.