There are few groups in history who have suffered as many waves of dispossession and displacement in such a short period as the Palestinian people. On May 15, 1948, over 700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homeland and over 500 Palestinian villages were destroyed in what is known as the Nakba or “catastrophe.”

The Nakba isn’t a fixed historical event but an ongoing phenomenon characterized by seventy-five years of occupation, colonial violence, and displacement. The Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated places on earth, is home to many of these refugees — some still have the keys to their former homes. The past three weeks have been particularly difficult; over 8,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli bombardments on mosques, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings.

Since 2007, Gaza has been economically suffocated by a siege that stops food, medicine, and construction materials from getting in. The unemployment rate stands at 47 percent. It’s why so many have jumped at the opportunity since October 2021 to access work permits to earn a living as day laborers in Israel. The process of applying for a work permit is arduous and unpredictable. Israel issues these permits through a quota system, and many applicants are denied. Those who secure permits face daily challenges, including long waits at border crossings, strict security checks, and grueling commutes. There are 19,000 Palestinians from Gaza in this position.