### Gaza: Between destruction and resilience, a population facing the unreal
On January 29, 2025, in the north of the Gaza Strip, Palestinians set foot on the soil of what was once their home, discovering the tragic scale of the destruction that has marked their lives. Nearly 500,000 of them, displaced by a war that never seems to let up, return to their neighborhoods in an atmosphere far from joyful. Through this experience of return, they are confronted with a bitter observation: almost all of their living environment has been annihilated by incessant bombings, a direct consequence of a conflict that has intensified since October 7, 2023, the tragic day of the Hamas attack on Israel.
This article does not only aim to relate the desolation that the inhabitants of Gaza see today. It seeks to paint a broader picture of the consequences of this war on the mental health, social structure and future of this region, which, before the outbreak of hostilities, was already facing serious socio-economic crises.
#### A panorama of destruction
The figures given by the United Nations are troubling: between 65 and 70% of buildings in northern Gaza are damaged or reduced to rubble. The scale of the damage goes far beyond physical infrastructure. It is also the destruction of the social fabric, a network of community support that, despite geopolitical tensions, has been a lifeline for years.
The return of the displaced to the northern area is accompanied by a sense of loss and absence. Families must cope not only with the quest for survival, but also with the need to rebuild life stories that were abruptly interrupted. Each collapsed building is a metaphor for their crumbling dreams, a tragicomedy that highlights the fragility of human existence.
#### When hope turns into despair
Katrin Glatz Brubakk, a psychologist at Médecins Sans Frontières, highlights the devastating psychological impact of the return to reality for thousands of citizens. Far from being a source of hope, this return acts as a devastating shock, putting the arduous path that lies ahead into perspective. The long marches, the endless waits, and the contact with the ruins revive buried terrors, ancestral fears of death and instability.
The testimonies collected echo an imminent mental health crisis. From this point of view, the prediction of an increase in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety is not only correct, but inevitable. Indeed, a study by the World Health Organization showed that populations exposed to situations of armed conflict and disasters are up to 20 times more likely to develop mental disorders than those living in stabilized regions..
#### A Struggle for Resilience
Despite the palpable devastation, Gazans cling to the idea of rebuilding, not only physically but also psychologically. Efforts to heal invisible wounds – as proposed by Nasser Hospital, where Brubakk works – are not enough to contain the magnitude of the challenges. The lack of medical equipment and structures adapted to rehabilitation are part of the scourge that is befalling the region. This suggests a future where the work of psychologists and social workers appears as a drop in an ocean of suffering.
One initiative that is emerging from this despair is the establishment of psychological support programs focused on children, aimed at offering them moments of respite from the war. The recreational activities, although minimal, present themselves as a desire to graft a few bursts of joy into a daily life darkened by fear.
#### Towards a Reconceptualization of Humanitarian Support
Looking at the destruction caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a broader lens, it is crucial to address the issue of reconstruction. Local and international actors must imperatively rethink their aid strategies, not only in terms of material rehabilitation, but by integrating socio-psychological dimensions.
To this end, it is essential that humanitarian and government entities work in concert with community groups. By allowing those who have experienced these torments to be actors in their own recovery, a form of resilience rooted in a collective struggle for a better future could be cultivated.
Ultimately, the reality in Gaza on January 29, 2025, is symptomatic of a paradox where memories of life and humanity collide with the debris of a recent past. Amidst this apocalyptic landscape, there is a faint hope: that of an indomitable resilience always ready to emerge from the ashes.