As Israel blocks all crossings into Gaza, food is used as a weapon of war against the civilian population in acts of collective punishment that amount to genocide. Last week, two displaced Palestinian women in Gaza City spoke with Unicorn Riot during a day of food distribution.

Rasha Ahmed

“We are residents of this camp, from the destroyed Tal al-Hawa area. We are here because our homes were destroyed, and we’re in line to receive food because the crossings are closed and there is no food for any of the families from this war.

There is no source of income for families, and we depend on this charity. If the charity is not there, most families go to bed with their children hungry. There is no bread and no flour either. If it is rice or pasta, a little flour is enough.

There is a huge crowd, as you see, because it is for the entire camp. There is no special food. We are supposed to receive food at 12:30, and until now we have not received anything and we are standing under the sun, as you can see. We left our tents with our children inside so that we can get food.”

Tahani al-Maghari

“We wish every day that they would feed us because the situation is very difficult. There is nothing because the crossings are closed. There are no vegetables, no cooked food or anything.

Because of the suffering and the difficulties we’re going through, we hope to God that these blessings will come to us on a daily basis.

The crossing is closed. There is no chicken or vegetables, and even flour and bread are very expensive. We do not know what to do. I hope that the crossing will be opened and that they will feel for the poor people. People are dying slowly and no one feels for us.”

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