In the Gaza Strip, some Palestinians are turning to arts and crafts as a way to cope with trauma and generate a small income amid a worsening humanitarian crisis that continues despite global attention shifting elsewhere.
Among them is Shireen al-Kurdi, a 36-year-old displaced mother of five who makes crocheted dolls to support her family. Using limited materials, she designs and handcrafts each doll after noticing a shortage of children’s toys in local markets.
“I started designing my own dolls with minimal resources and details,” she said, explaining that the idea came from necessity as much as creativity.
Conditions in the Gaza Strip, home to about 2.3 million people, have deteriorated sharply during the ongoing conflict, with widespread poverty reported by UN Trade and Development. Basic goods, including food and children’s toys, are often scarce or unaffordable.
Al-Kurdi sells each handmade doll for about $10, but she says the income is far from enough to sustain her household. “It helps, but it cannot cover the needs of a family of seven,” she explained.
Inside her tent, she works with colorful yarn and simple crochet tools, creating dolls inspired by cartoon characters and even small decorative items like a crocheted cake. She often works long hours, sometimes without adequate lighting.
Despite the hardship, she sees her work as more than income. “Every child in Gaza has the right to play and have a doll,” she said, noting that many children have been deprived of normal childhood experiences due to years of war.
Meanwhile, violence continues across the territory, with reports of ongoing airstrikes and casualties documented by humanitarian agencies, including the health authorities in Gaza.
Through her craft, al-Kurdi’s work reflects both survival and resilience — small handmade objects offering comfort in the midst of devastation.
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