How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
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Current Issue
World
/ March 12, 2026
How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
As Israel bombards Iran with rockets, it is sealing off borders across Gaza and the West Bank, halting the flow of food, aid, and bodies.
Hassan Herzallah
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Palestinians, mainly children, wait to get hot food distributed by a charity organization as food shortages continue amid restrictions on the entry of aid.
(Abed Rahim Khatib / Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I ‘m here at the market—come help me, I bought a lot to carry with me.”
With this short message, my father told me on a recent morning that he had decided to go to the market. He knew prices were high, yet he chose to buy more food despite the cost. In Gaza, people don’t always buy food because they need it today—they buy it because they fear it might not be there tomorrow.
The morning was Saturday, February 28, 2026, the same one that international news reported that after Israel, along with the United States, had launched a military strike inside Iran. For much of the world, this probably seemed like a distant crisis, one they could read, even amid their horror, through a political or military lens. But in Gaza, the news was more than a far-off event—it was an early warning of what might come.
In a place that has endured two years of genocide and long years of blockade, any regional escalation is immediately read as a direct threat to daily life. Israel often takes advantage of such moments to tighten its control over Gaza, restrict access to essential goods, and limit movement, making daily life even more precarious for residents, while much of the world and the media remain distracted or unaware of what is happening on the ground.
The signs appeared quickly. Israel sealed off Gaza’s borders—blocking the flow not just of goods, but also of humanitarian aid. It even shut down travel crossings that allow patients to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment abroad.
With the closures, fuel and gas trucks—which had only just begun to pick up after the ceasefire required Israel to lift its near-total siege—stopped entering the territory. These supplies are essential for running generators, cooking, and operating some basic facilities. In a place where more than two million people live in a small area with high population density, and where daily life depends almost entirely on what enters through these crossings, any closure can quickly become a real crisis—especially during Ramadan, when families need more food and essential goods.
Current Issue
April 2026 Issue
Hours after hearing the news, I went to the market myself.
What I saw there was fear and anxiety. People’s faces were …
Every delay has consequences.
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How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
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Current Issue
World
/ March 12, 2026
How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
As Israel bombards Iran with rockets, it is sealing off borders across Gaza and the West Bank, halting the flow of food, aid, and bodies.
Hassan Herzallah
Share
Copy Link
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Ad Policy
Palestinians, mainly children, wait to get hot food distributed by a charity organization as food shortages continue amid restrictions on the entry of aid.
(Abed Rahim Khatib / Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I ‘m here at the market—come help me, I bought a lot to carry with me.”
With this short message, my father told me on a recent morning that he had decided to go to the market. He knew prices were high, yet he chose to buy more food despite the cost. In Gaza, people don’t always buy food because they need it today—they buy it because they fear it might not be there tomorrow.
The morning was Saturday, February 28, 2026, the same one that international news reported that after Israel, along with the United States, had launched a military strike inside Iran. For much of the world, this probably seemed like a distant crisis, one they could read, even amid their horror, through a political or military lens. But in Gaza, the news was more than a far-off event—it was an early warning of what might come.
In a place that has endured two years of genocide and long years of blockade, any regional escalation is immediately read as a direct threat to daily life. Israel often takes advantage of such moments to tighten its control over Gaza, restrict access to essential goods, and limit movement, making daily life even more precarious for residents, while much of the world and the media remain distracted or unaware of what is happening on the ground.
The signs appeared quickly. Israel sealed off Gaza’s borders—blocking the flow not just of goods, but also of humanitarian aid. It even shut down travel crossings that allow patients to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment abroad.
With the closures, fuel and gas trucks—which had only just begun to pick up after the ceasefire required Israel to lift its near-total siege—stopped entering the territory. These supplies are essential for running generators, cooking, and operating some basic facilities. In a place where more than two million people live in a small area with high population density, and where daily life depends almost entirely on what enters through these crossings, any closure can quickly become a real crisis—especially during Ramadan, when families need more food and essential goods.
Current Issue
April 2026 Issue
Hours after hearing the news, I went to the market myself.
What I saw there was fear and anxiety. People’s faces were …
How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
Every delay has consequences.
Log In
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Password *
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How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
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Current Issue
World
/ March 12, 2026
How a Rocket in Iran Reverberates in Gaza
As Israel bombards Iran with rockets, it is sealing off borders across Gaza and the West Bank, halting the flow of food, aid, and bodies.
Hassan Herzallah
Share
Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky Pocket
Email
Ad Policy
Palestinians, mainly children, wait to get hot food distributed by a charity organization as food shortages continue amid restrictions on the entry of aid.
(Abed Rahim Khatib / Anadolu via Getty Images)
“I ‘m here at the market—come help me, I bought a lot to carry with me.”
With this short message, my father told me on a recent morning that he had decided to go to the market. He knew prices were high, yet he chose to buy more food despite the cost. In Gaza, people don’t always buy food because they need it today—they buy it because they fear it might not be there tomorrow.
The morning was Saturday, February 28, 2026, the same one that international news reported that after Israel, along with the United States, had launched a military strike inside Iran. For much of the world, this probably seemed like a distant crisis, one they could read, even amid their horror, through a political or military lens. But in Gaza, the news was more than a far-off event—it was an early warning of what might come.
In a place that has endured two years of genocide and long years of blockade, any regional escalation is immediately read as a direct threat to daily life. Israel often takes advantage of such moments to tighten its control over Gaza, restrict access to essential goods, and limit movement, making daily life even more precarious for residents, while much of the world and the media remain distracted or unaware of what is happening on the ground.
The signs appeared quickly. Israel sealed off Gaza’s borders—blocking the flow not just of goods, but also of humanitarian aid. It even shut down travel crossings that allow patients to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment abroad.
With the closures, fuel and gas trucks—which had only just begun to pick up after the ceasefire required Israel to lift its near-total siege—stopped entering the territory. These supplies are essential for running generators, cooking, and operating some basic facilities. In a place where more than two million people live in a small area with high population density, and where daily life depends almost entirely on what enters through these crossings, any closure can quickly become a real crisis—especially during Ramadan, when families need more food and essential goods.
Current Issue
April 2026 Issue
Hours after hearing the news, I went to the market myself.
What I saw there was fear and anxiety. People’s faces were …
