Life With Dignity Stories

Fidaa

Pharma entrepreneur in a blockaded enclave

Fidaa is a passionate pharma entrepreneur. Although it’s almost mission impossible to run a business in Gaza, which is under blockade, he has managed to produce and sell locally. His dreams go far beyond the...
Ahlam from Gaza

It takes a village to help Ahlam

Coordinated efforts of UN organizations, local authorities, civil society, and diplomats made it possible for Ahlam to exit Gaza with her mother for a much-needed surgery .in Jerusalem. It took a village. Much more is...
Posted in Gaza

Save Al Walaja!

The Mansour family have cultivated little piece of heaven in rural Al Walaja (Bethlehem, West Bank), where they lived in bliss. Now, all of this may be destroyed, as the Israeli authorities plan to demolish...

The Artist and the Olive Harvest

Fidaa Ataya is an artist and an educator. She works in her family’s lands, creating nature installations for her community. Last month, Israeli settlers destroyed her nature art studio and community space (which was established...

A Tropical Escape in Gaza

Two million Palestinians are virtually ‘locked-up’ in Gaza, a tiny coastal enclave the size of Detroit or Belgrade. Many dream of going abroad, but have never been allowed to even visit other parts of their...

When Art Speaks Up

Mohammed Al Haj is a fine artist from Gaza. He painted a series of portraits and displayed them in an exhibition under the theme (Transfer) which is about forced displacement and eviction. In the last...
Posted in Gaza

I Dream of Cycling

All his life, Alaa has loved cycling. Alaa kept winning cycle competitions and being invited to international contests, but Israeli authorities would not grant him an exit permit to leave Gaza. On 30 March 2018,...

Dangerous Findings

Imagine one day authorities declare your home an archeological site, demolish parts of it, and then constantly confiscate the windows and doors in the remaining parts. Imagine unwelcome visitors harass you at night and dance...

The Family in the Cave

Barakat Mur’s family has been attacked in Khirbet at Twamin by Israeli settlers four times since January 2020. They sleep in fear for their safety. Fearing for their safety, the women and girls of the...

Firing Zones

“The Israeli forces practice their military training, sometimes forcing us out of our homes day or night. Israeli soldiers stormed in five minutes before our dinner. My youngest child was terrified, falling and injuring himself...

The First Fisherwoman in Gaza

Madleen is the first and the only woman working in the fishing industry in the Gaza strip. With the land and the sea blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, the craft has become very difficult....

Ali’s Backpack

Ali Abu Alya’s fatal shooting occurred on 4 December near Al Mughayyir village (Ramallah), during clashes that erupted in a protest against the establishment of an Israeli settlement outpost. The Israeli authorities announced the opening...

More Than Books

Samir Mansour is the owner of one of the biggest bookshops in Gaza. Located near Gaza’s universities, his place is a popular student hang-out. For 20 years, Samir has been dreaming of having the largest...

Bearing Witness

“I am pregnant and full of fear. My cousin was five months pregnant when Israeli settlers attacked her with large stones. I am expecting my baby in two months. She hopefully will bring light to...

A Historic Bike Race in Gaza

In Gaza this week, 300 contestants—including girls and people with disabilities—took part in a cycling tournament organized by UNDP Palestine. Activities like these help people relax, compete, and forget for a moment the hardships of...

The Sea Is Ours

“We are a group of volunteers executing an initiative named ‘The Sea Is Ours’. This initiative is about creating a beautiful place on the beach for Gazans out of recycled items. Everything is recycled. We...