The resilience of human spirit is being tested as daily life dissolves into a struggle for survival in Gaza

In the bombed, bloodied and lifeless streets of Gaza's biggest cities, the conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants is unfolding with devastating consequences. The once-bustling urban landscapes have transformed into battlegrounds where the continuous sounds of explosion and gunfire reverberate, drowning out even the desperate cries of civilians caught in the crossfire. In cities where the battles are most intense and deadly, normal citizens find themselves unable to escape the chaos, destruction and death around them. Women and children, who should be shielded from the horrors of war, are caught in the crossfire, their lives hanging in the balance. Families sit huddled in the remnants of their homes, hoping to reach some sort of shelter from the relentless shelling and gunfire. The cries of children, bewildered and terrified, pierce the air as their world crumbles around them without notice and for no fault of theirs. Hospitals, already strained by the dual challenges of a global pandemic and limited resources, are overwhelmed by a seemingly endless stream of casualties. Israeli forces are fiercely battling Palestinian militants in two of the largest Gaza cities. Israel's Defence Minister asserts that the ongoing "operation" against the Hamas will require an extended period. Yoav Gallant, a member of Israel's three-person war Cabinet, remains unmoved though the UN secretary-general and prominent Arab States have advocated for an immediate cease-fire. The US, for its part, is running with the hare and hunting with the hounds.

The cacophony of destruction across the Gaza Strip is not limited to daylight; even the black night sky is illuminated with the fiery glow of relentless airstrikes, a whistle-like sharp sound and a plume of smoke accompanying those, creating an apocalyptic scene that haunts the collective consciousness. Amid the ruins, the human fear and toll is palpable. The war has already forced nearly 85 per cent of Gaza Strip's 2.3 million people to flee their homes, rendering them refugees in their own land where they have to bear the conditions of poor sanitation, medical supplies and lack of basic essentials, besides food, fuel and electricity. Those who remained behind face the constant threat of displacement as the conflict rages on indefinitely. Its impact extends beyond the physical realm, leaving scars on the collective psyche of a community that has already endured decades of strife. Dreams of a better future are eclipsed by the harsh reality of a present defined by destruction, displacement, despair and death. As the international community grapples with the military and geopolitical complexities of the conflict, the graphic and horrific reality on the ground demands urgent attention. The cries of the innocent, the rubble-strewn desolate streets and the pervasive sense of loss call for a collective response to immediately alleviate the suffering of the innocent and pave the way for a future free from the shackles of perpetual conflict.