With banks destroyed and cash in disrepair, Gaza’s economy operates on barter, mobile transfers, and informal networks. International aid is stifled by banking fears of terrorism financing, forcing individuals to rely on personal swaps of shekels through trusted contacts. Even when money is sent, accessing it is nearly impossible without functioning ATMs or electricity. Inflation has skyrocketed—diapers now cost 12 times more—while basic goods vanish from shelves. People risk their lives to find milk or charge a phone, and communication itself becomes a lifeline. Despite this, residents like Haya persist, studying and sharing their stories online, clinging to dignity and hope in a place where normal life has been erased.