Gaza residents search trash for fuel to stay warm, highlighting stark contrast with Trump’s vision
Desperate Palestinians in Gaza are scavenging through trash to find plastic to burn for warmth amid the cold and damp winter, two years after the Israel-Hamas war devastated the enclave. In the Muwasi neighborhood of Khan Younis, families risk injury and exposure as they try to survive, highlighting the stark contrast between their daily reality and international visions of Gaza’s recovery.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a Board of Peace to oversee Gaza, claiming “record levels” of humanitarian aid had flowed into the territory since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire began in October. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff emphasized Gaza’s development potential, but residents say life on the ground remains bleak. Hundreds of thousands are displaced, living in tents or damaged buildings, exposed to freezing nighttime temperatures, and reliant on limited fuel supplies.
Even months into the truce, deadly violence continues. Israeli tank shelling killed four Palestinians east of Gaza City on Thursday. Many locals are skeptical about the Board of Peace. “This committee includes Israelis. I don’t understand, as citizens, how can we understand this situation?” said Rami Ghalban, displaced from Khan Younis. Others, like Fathi Abu Sultan, said there are no alternatives: “Our situation is miserable.”
Fuel and firewood remain scarce and costly, forcing families to burn plastic for warmth. Two 13-year-old boys were recently killed while collecting firewood. Aid agencies report that only about 40% of the 970 displacement sites across Gaza can currently receive support due to funding and capacity constraints. Essentials like tents, blankets, warm clothes, and solar lights are being distributed, but families like Sanaa Salah’s rely on burning trash to survive.
Amid these hardships, residents mourn the deaths of three Palestinian journalists killed by an Israeli strike while filming near a displacement camp. More than 470 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the ceasefire began, including at least 77 near the ceasefire line.
While Trump promotes the Board of Peace, Gaza’s future may see modest changes on the ground. Officials said the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is set to reopen next week, allowing residents access to medical care and family visits. Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged $1 billion for humanitarian aid through the Board of Peace if the U.S. approves the funds, while asserting that a functioning Palestinian state is key to resolving the region’s long-term conflicts.
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