Displacement, deprivation, and loss of dignity: The psychosocial and material impact of genocide on elderly Gazans

Repeated cycles of conflict and forced displacement in the Gaza Strip have created a severe humanitarian crisis, with specific implications for the aging population. Older adults face distinct risks due to physical frailty, chronic health needs, and the breakdown of community support structures. This qualitative study investigates the psychosocial and material consequences of genocide on elderly Gazans, examining the impacts of displacement, deprivation, and loss of dignity. Through in-depth interviews with forty elderly men and women residing in shelters in Rafah, the research uncovers how repeated forced displacement has shattered the sense of home and security, amplifying chronic anxiety, grief, and disorientation. Systemic deprivation—including the collapse of health infrastructure and restricted access to essential medicines—further exacerbates physical suffering and a pervasive sense of helplessness. Overcrowded, unsanitary shelter conditions strip older adults of autonomy and dignity, intensifying psychological wounds. Despite severe hardship, many participants demonstrate resilience through faith, cultural values such as sumud (steadfastness), and mutual support, yet these coping strategies are stretched to their limits by ongoing violence and scarcity. The study calls for urgent, age-sensitive humanitarian responses to safeguard the health, dignity, and fundamental rights of Gaza’s elderly in the face of continued genocide and deprivation.