Tayseer Obaid, a 37-year-old father from Gaza, took extraordinary measures to protect his family of ten during the relentless Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip. Displaced from Beit Lahiya and now residing in a tent in Deir al-Balah, Obaid dug a large pit beneath the shelter to safeguard his children from the ongoing violence.
Despite the hardships, Obaid demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness. Using limited resources, he cultivated a small patch of land next to the tent, growing vegetables to combat the malnutrition his children face due to severe food shortages. As heavy rains swept across the region during winter, he collected rainwater to mitigate the acute water scarcity in the displaced persons’ camp.
Since the war’s outbreak on October 7, 2023, Obaid and his family have been forced to move multiple times, like many others in Gaza.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged for a final push toward a Gaza ceasefire before President Joe Biden leaves office. A Hamas official recently confirmed the clearance of 34 hostages for release under a proposed truce.
In parallel, Israel has dispatched a delegation of mid-ranking officials to Qatar for negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Reports suggest that Mossad head David Barnea, who has been leading these talks, may join the team, although the Israeli prime minister’s office has declined to comment.
