ISRAELI OCCUPIED GAZA, 21 Jan. - (ANA) - Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Israel’s war on Gaza are struggling to rebuild their lives and secure shelter amid soaring rents, scarce housing, fierce competition and restrictive, often informal conditions imposed by landlords.

 

Since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect in October, Palestinians, at least 90 percent of whom have been displaced, many of them repeatedly, have faced the near-impossible task of finding a place to live while attempting to restore some sense of stability.

 

Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid, combined with the lack of heavy machinery needed to clear millions of tonnes of rubble, have further compounded the crisis.

 

Price gouging has become widespread, not only for food and basic necessities but also for housing, with many families paying inflated sums to rent partially destroyed apartments or bombed-out plots of land where they erect tents.

 

 

 

 

Mohammed Adwan, a 42-year-old displaced father of five from Gaza City now living in Deir al-Balah, told The New Arab that before the war, he paid around 700 shekels (around $220) a month for his apartment. Today, he pays 250 shekels ($63) for a small patch of bare land with no electricity, water or bathroom.

 

“There is no contract, legal protection, or anything. Just a verbal agreement,” he said.

 

“If someone else comes tomorrow and claims the land is theirs, we have no protection. The owner simply says this was his land before the war, and we are forced to believe it because there is no authority to turn to,” he added.

 

With no governing authority, unsafe land littered with unexploded ordnance, extreme overcrowding and a severe shortage of housing, landlords have raised prices further, exploiting intense demand. In the absence of official documentation, Adwan said society has been forced to rely on trust alone.

 

“Whoever controls the land controls reality,” he said. “We are forced to pay because the alternative is sleeping in the street with our children. Life has become a choice between bad and worse.”

 

Many Palestinians say they are exhausted by the need to search for income and shelter while enduring bombardment, trauma and daily survival. Only a narrow strip of liveable land remains in Gaza, with large areas designated as Israeli military zones, deepening the mental toll on civilians.

 

 

 

 

According to reports, a small one-room apartment with a basic kitchen and bathroom but no electricity or running water can cost around $1,000 per month, while larger apartments can reach $3,000. Before the war, rents often started at around $100.

 

Prices fluctuate based on landlords’ assessments of demand, making it increasingly difficult for displaced families to achieve any sense of security. Intermittent Israeli strikes that have continued despite the ceasefire, alongside ongoing destruction of infrastructure, have further hindered efforts to rebuild.

 

Winter conditions have only worsened the crisis, with families facing heavy rain and strong winds while living in makeshift shelters. Israel continues to block or delay the entry of essential supplies such as tents, tarpaulins and prefabricated housing.

 

Even pitching a tent or constructing a shelter from scraps can be prohibitively expensive. Transporting families and belongings can cost hundreds of dollars, while finding available land is increasingly difficult. Tents themselves can cost around $300 for a small one.

 

 

 

 

Talal Abu Rokbeh, a Gaza-based policy analyst with al-Shabaka, told The New Arab that Israel’s war has severely damaged Gaza’s social fabric and intensified divisions.

 

"Displacement was the primary goal of Israel, and this has impacted the population, social relationships and how people deal with one another," he said.

 

"The threats have affected people from all backgrounds, and a lack of political actors has also contributed to a more divided society in the face of Israeli policies, and means there is limited protection for civilians," he said.

 

“We currently have two kinds of people - those who have had their homes partially destroyed and those who have been left in the streets. We are also in what you can call a war economy, where there is some exploitation due to the sheer volume of demand,” he added. "This has further split people, particularly during a time when people are divided and vulnerable."

 

“Landlords are justifying the extortionate pricing because prices for goods are high, and they too have to pay for them. All of these factors combined have widened the gaps between people and have taken a huge mental toll on individuals,” he added.

 

 

 

 

Hadi Abdul Salam, a 35-year-old father of three from Rafah displaced to Khan Younis, said families live in constant fear of being forced out.

 

"Rent today is determined by location, proximity to services, and even by how many tents are already on the land. I now pay 300 shekels a month for a space no larger than 40 square meters - essentially a large tent," he said.

 

"If someone claims ownership of the land, disputes are settled through force or local customs. There is no law. Whoever is stronger or more influential imposes their word. Ownership is no longer proven through documents, but through reputation and community recognition," he added.

 

Before the war, Abdul Salam lived in a two-bedroom apartment in Rafah, paying 600 shekels a month. He now struggles to cover the cost of living in a partially destroyed room.

 

 

 

 

Many Palestinians seeking shelter face additional barriers, including demands for identity documents and background checks.

 

After repeated forced evacuations, many civilians lost official papers, yet landlords often refuse to lease without them, citing fears that tenants could draw Israeli targeting.

 

Residents say some landlords impose conditions barring men, including relatives and visitors, from staying in rented spaces, as men are heavily targeted by Israeli strikes.

 

Journalists, videographers, and medical workers are also frequently denied leases due to fears linked to Israeli attacks.

 

According to Reporters Without Borders, Israel killed more journalists in 2025 than any other country.

 

 

 

 

The housing crisis has inflicted severe psychological distress, particularly on families forced to sleep in the streets without privacy, warmth or protection. Women and children say they feel increasingly unsafe, a situation worsened by Israel’s restrictions on aid agencies, including UNRWA.

 

Um Ahmad, a 38-year-old widow and mother of four displaced from northern Gaza, said the family owned their home before the war and never worried about rent. Now, with no income and children to care for, she lives in constant fear.

 

"We moved from one place to another until we ended up in a tent. I don't understand how rent is calculated anymore. The landowner named a price, and I agreed because I had no other option. I pay 200 shekels a month just to keep a tent standing on destroyed land," she said.

 

"If someone else comes and claims the land, I am the weakest party. I cannot argue or demand proof," she added.

 

"There is so much pain in the fact that I can’t mourn. Even after losing my husband and my home, I am still expected to pay rent just to survive."   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/21 January 2026 - - -