ISTANBUL, Turkey

Amid the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, now almost three weeks old, children from the strip are voicing their harrowing struggles, especially in getting their hands on daily life essentials such as food and water.

Speaking to Anadolu, Abdul Latif Baker, 10, laid bare his daily battle for survival, saying: “We’re fighting to put food on the table, resorting to baking our own bread over open fires, as the occupation has left our bakeries in ruins and our homes devastated."

He added: "We can barely access water, and this water usually isn’t drinkable.”

“We go out to search for cardboard and firewood to light fires and prepare bread,” says Majd Al-Hessi, 12 years old.

Majd voiced hope for an end to the war, adding: "I don’t want to lose any of my family or friends."

Sixteen-year-old Mohammad Baker aspires to a future where he can become a doctor or an engineer. He shares his dreams with deep longing, saying: "We yearn to breathe the air of freedom and witness the liberation of our homeland."

The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless air campaign against the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 7,200 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 5,791 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been running out of food, water, medicines and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.