Displaced Palestinians in southeastern Gaza City have set fire to their own tents in a rare act of protest, reflecting mounting frustration over worsening living conditions and repeated Israeli violations of the agreed ceasefire.
The protest took place on Thursday at the Dar al-Salam camp in the Zeitoun neighbourhood under the slogan “We burn our tents before they burn us,” with dozens of residents, including children, calling for urgent protection.
The participants demanded the construction of earthen barriers to shield the camp from Israeli fire and the provision of basic humanitarian aid, citing severe shortages of water and essential supplies.
“When the shooting starts, we throw ourselves to the ground inside the tent,” said Asmaa Arhim, a displaced resident who was previously wounded by Israeli fire.
“It offers no real protection,” she told Anadolu Agency.
Arhim said families have been living for months without reliable access to water, forcing them to travel long distances to obtain it, while food aid arrives sporadically.
“These tents no longer provide safety or a dignified life,” she added, describing the burning of tents as a symbolic expression of anger.
‘Different reality’
The camp lies near what residents call the “yellow line” in southeastern Gaza City, where Israeli forces withdrew under a ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025.
Residents say the area has since been exposed to repeated Israeli gunfire, posing a constant threat to those living in the camp.
“During the war, we knew when the bombing would start,” said Wissam Abdullah, another displaced resident.
