It has been a year since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted, a conflict that has brought unspeakable devastation to the Gaza Strip. The days since October 7 have stretched into months of relentless bombings, displacement, and desperation. For the people living in Gaza, the conflict has stripped them of their homes, their loved ones, and their sense of normalcy.
It is not just buildings that have crumbled, but entire lives - careers, dreams, families - torn apart by the ravages of war. The numbers tell only part of the story. Behind each statistic is a personal tragedy.
Homes are now rubble, hospitals are overwhelmed, and the world seems to look on helplessly, watching as the conflict deepens. The war has displaced hundreds of thousands, turning vibrant communities into mere shadows of their former selves. For the survivors, daily life is a continuous struggle, and yet within that struggle, there are those who push forward.
One such individual is Dr Khaled Alshawwa, a 31-year-old surgeon from Gaza City. Khaled, like many in his community, never planned to be on the frontlines of a humanitarian crisis. Just a week before the war, he had completed his surgical training at Almakassed Hospital in Jerusalem, a prestigious medical institution.
He had returned to Gaza for what was meant to be a brief family visit-just a few days to reconnect with loved ones before continuing his career. But then the war began, and everything changed. In an instant, Khaled found himself in the m.