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.
"Now, you can be walking normally and get shot at any moment," he said.
Abdullah said he had been shot twice, adding that a bullet was removed from his body just a day earlier after weeks of suffering.
"Despite talk of a ceasefire, the reality is completely different," he added.
Hundreds of displaced Palestinians are living in Dar al-Salam camp after fleeing other parts of Zeitoun, facing worsening humanitarian conditions and limited aid.
Genocide continues
Since the ceasefire in Israeli genocide took effect in October 2025, Israel has violated it hundreds of times.
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, Israel has killed at least 824 Palestinians and wounded 2,316 others since the ceasefire took effect.
Israel has killed over 72,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and wounded more than 172,000 others in its genocide in Gaza since October 2023. According to analysts, this is only a conservative estimate, and the actual toll could be around 200,000.
Israel has reduced most of the enclave to ruins in its relentless attacks, displaced all of the enclave's population, and occupied more than half of the besieged territory.
The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
