July 2025 Operations
July 1 – 30, 2025
Location: Gaza Strip
Context and Situation Overview
July 2025 in Gaza was marked by an escalating humanitarian catastrophe. Our people faced relentless aggression, widespread displacement, and a systematic siege that crippled essential services and obliterated economic stability. The fundamental right to life, health, and dignity remained under constant assault. Basic necessities, including critical medical supplies, water, and food, were alarmingly scarce. The situation worsened continuously, pushing more families into extreme deprivation and despair. This context of urgent and profound need shaped Sa7ten’s interventions, focusing on direct and meaningful support to alleviate suffering and address critical shortages. The deliberate destruction of infrastructure, including water stations, schools, and hospitals, continued, creating an environment of profound hardship and danger.
Narrative of Sa7ten’s Activities
Throughout July, our teams responded to urgent appeals and critical needs on the ground:
Early July - Water Distribution (July 2, July 4, July 10-17): Our efforts began with critical water distribution. On July 2, seven cubic meters of water were delivered to Al-Nasser neighborhood, a consistent area of support. On July 4, two trucks, each carrying seven cubic meters of essential supplies, were dispatched to Al-Nasser and around Haider Abdel Shafi roundabout, responding to ongoing appeals. From July 10 to July 17, ten trucks, each carrying seven cubic meters of water, were distributed across various areas including Yarmouk Street, Palestine Stadium area, Al-Azhar University, Al-Jalaa Street, Al-Sahaba Street, Al-Nasser neighborhood, Al-Daraj area, the extension of Al-Sahaba Street, Al-Nasser Street around the Meat Market, Al-Burak Camp near Palestine Roundabout, Palestine Stadium, Al-Burak School, and Al-Azhar Camp near the Passports office. These distributions were driven by the overwhelming thirst and lack of operational water stations.
Mid-July - Children's Festivals (July 7): On July 7, our teams organized a series of children's festivals across three distinct locations. These events, meticulously planned over three days with an entertainment troupe, aimed to create an atmosphere of joy and provide a much-needed reprieve for children and their families from the relentless brutality. Approximately 2,000 invitation cards were distributed to encourage broad participation.
Late July - Urgent Support for Children and Families (July 21): On July 21, a critical support effort was initiated at Abdul Aziz Al-Rantisi Hospital, a specialized children's hospital, to address severe shortages of essential supplies for children. Preparations involved close coordination with medical staff to assess conditions and identify critical cases. Direct cash assistance was provided to families, empowering them to purchase specific necessities like vitamins, medications, or formula, recognizing the varied needs of each child.
Late July - Blood Donation Drive (July 28): In the fourth week of July, a crucial blood donation drive was orchestrated at Al-Karama School in Gaza. This initiative was a direct response to an urgent appeal from a local blood bank due to dire shortages. The activity involved extensive coordination with medical institutions, securing a team of nurses, a doctor, and an ambulance. Approximately 2,000 invitation cards were distributed across various camps to ensure broad participation. We were able to secure some flour and sugar to make pastries for the donors so they could safely donate.
Activity Summary by Date
July 2, 2025: Water distribution, Al-Nasser neighborhood.
July 4, 2025: Aid distribution (water/essential supplies), Al-Nasser neighborhood and Haider Abdel Shafi roundabout.
July 7, 2025: Children's festivals, three distinct locations.
July 10-17, 2024: Water distribution (70,000 Liters), Yarmouk Street, Palestine Stadium area, Al-Azhar University, Al-Jalaa Street, Al-Sahaba Street, Al-Nasser neighborhood, Al-Daraj area, the extension of Al-Sahaba Street, Al-Nasser Street around the Meat Market, Al-Burak Camp near Palestine Roundabout, Palestine Stadium, Al-Burak School, and Al-Azhar Camp near the Passports office.
July 21, 2025: Urgent support for children and families (cash assistance), Abdul Aziz Al-Rantisi Hospital.
July 28, 2025: Blood donation drive, Al-Karama School, Gaza.
Targeted Locations
Our work in July focused geographically on areas experiencing acute need and high concentrations of displaced individuals. Recurrently served areas include the Al-Nasser neighborhood. Newly reached or consistently supported areas this month included:
Abdul Aziz Al-Rantisi Hospital
Haider Abdel Shafi roundabout
Yarmouk Street
Palestine Stadium area
Al-Azhar University
Al-Jalaa Street
Al-Sahaba Street
Al-Daraj area
The extension of Al-Sahaba Street
Al-Nasser Street around the Meat Market
Al-Burak Camp near Palestine Roundabout
Palestine Stadium
Al-Burak School
Al-Azhar Camp near the Passports office
Al-Karama School
Targeted Audiences
Our activities served our people in the affected regions, particularly those facing extreme hardship. This included:
Children and their families, especially those in critical health conditions or suffering from malnutrition.
Displaced families living in tents or overcrowded conditions.
Individuals able to donate blood, particularly those residing in the camps.
Communities sending urgent appeals for basic necessities like water and food.
In essence, the entire society is now living below the poverty line, facing severe thirst and hunger, with everyone in desperate need.
Logistics and Team Operations
Our teams operated under immense pressure, demonstrating unwavering commitment. Logistics were meticulously planned despite severe constraints. For water distribution, teams navigated the scarcity of operational water stations and available vehicles, often facing long queues. For aid distribution, operations were coordinated with local teams, ensuring timely communication about arrival for efficient delivery. The children's festivals required coordinating a specialized entertainment troupe and securing transportation across multiple locations. The blood donation drive involved extensive pre-event coordination to secure a full medical team (nurses, a doctor) and an ambulance, along with the printing and distribution of 2,000 invitation cards across various camps. On-site management included setting up donation sites, managing donor flow, and providing refreshments to prevent fainting. Our teams often worked from early morning until late, adapting to the volatile environment.
Public Perception and Ground-Level Impact
The activities were met with profound appreciation and a sense of relief. For families grappling with unimaginable hardships, any form of support was perceived as a significant gesture of solidarity and care, signifying that they were not forgotten. The presence of our teams and the arrival of aid offered a glimmer of hope amidst pervasive despair. The turnout for the blood donation drive, with over 100 individuals donating despite famine conditions, was exceptional, speaking volumes about their willingness to contribute. Blood bank officials expressed astonishment and deep gratitude, highlighting the critical scarcity of donations. The children's festivals were profoundly positive; our team members lived the joy alongside the participants, sharing in the dancing, competitions, and laughter. These events provided a vital sense of community and a brief escape from daily suffering.
Challenges and Difficulties
Our teams faced significant and multifaceted challenges:
Operational and Logistical: Pervasive shortages meant finding available supplies, even with cash, was extremely difficult. Accessing water pumping stations and securing enough vehicles for distribution was an uphill battle due to severe strain on infrastructure. Coordinating large-scale events in an environment of constant threat was complex.
Security: Indiscriminate shelling and constant bombardment made every movement perilous. The pervasive fear created a climate of danger, making any large gathering a perilous undertaking. The systematic destruction of infrastructure, including displacement centers, schools, and hospitals, exacerbated the crisis.
Financial: The economic collapse led to astronomical inflation of essential goods. A kilogram of sugar cost ₪320, and a bag of flour could reach ₪1700-₪1800. This hyperinflation, coupled with the scarcity of goods, made basic survival impossible for most. Exorbitant commissions (up to 45-48%) on money transfers into the region severely diminished the effective value of aid. Securing sufficient funding for fuel and basic provisions for our own team members was a daily struggle.
Human Toll: The pervasive sense of despair and suffering affected everyone, including our team members. The constant threat, loss of loved ones, and widespread destruction inflicted deep and enduring trauma. The psychological impact of starvation was described as worse than death itself, with people facing a terrifyingly slow demise.
Quotes of the Month
“The lack of basic necessities is absolute and 100% present. Even if we could provide things like baby formula or diapers, we wouldn’t know exactly what each child needs. That’s why we decided on cash distribution; it was agreed this way so people can buy what’s suitable and urgently needed for their child.”
“The lack of basic necessities is absolute and 100% present. Even if we could provide things like baby formula or diapers, we wouldn’t know exactly what each child needs. That’s why we decided on cash distribution; it was agreed this way so people can buy what’s suitable and urgently needed for their child.”
“We saw the images on television and social media – the profound suffering, especially of children. It broke our hearts, and we felt a deep urgency to act. Our work springs from the sheer oppression people are enduring, from the disasters that are beyond what a human mind can bear.”
“Honestly, when the idea of a blood donation drive was first proposed, I was sceptical. How could we make this work? It requires doctors, an ambulance, and people in such a state of hunger. It’s not easy. But our people are truly extraordinary; they came forward despite their own suffering.”
“The reception to this initiative was truly beautiful. We didn’t just feel the people’s happiness; we lived it with them. Our youth experienced that moment of Dabke, competition, and laughter, even as massacres and casualties were ongoing. We wanted to convey the idea that we remain, that we are here.”
“The humanitarian situation... it’s not even humanitarian anymore. Animals in other countries, perhaps even in North Africa, might have more food and water than our people here, even though the comparison is painful. They are the crown jewel on our heads, but this is the truth. The humanitarian situation is zero.”
“The weapon of starvation is not a simple thing; it’s one of the most difficult things people have lived through, more difficult than death, by God, more difficult than death.”
Call to Action
The situation in Gaza demands immediate and sustained action. What has been detailed in this report is but a glimpse into the profound suffering endured by our people, particularly the innocent children, as a direct result of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the zionist state of Israel and systematic deprivation. The humanitarian crisis is deepening with each passing day, pushing communities to the brink of survival.
We call upon International NGOs and humanitarian actors to escalate their efforts, collaborate strategically, and prioritize direct, impactful interventions. The time for conventional approaches is over; the urgency demands innovative and courageous actions to reach those in desperate need. Increase your presence and support on the ground. The scale of this crisis requires a unified and comprehensive response. Share resources, coordinate efforts, and amplify the voices of those directly affected.
We urge Regional Powers in the Middle East to leverage their influence for immediate and decisive action. It is imperative to facilitate the opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza without delay and to exert all possible pressure for the lifting of the siege that has choked the life out of our people. Furthermore, the authorization of medical evacuations for critical cases and the continuous flow of essential health aid and supplies must be ensured. The lives of our people in Gaza hang in the balance. Every moment counts.
Financial Breakdown
The financial support for our critical initiatives was fundamental to their success, enabling our teams to carry out essential tasks. The costs are significantly impacted by the severe economic conditions and high transfer fees.
Urgent Support for Children and Families (July 21): Approximately ₪16,000 to ₪16,500. This figure includes commission fees associated with handling monetary distributions.
Children's Festivals (July 7): Estimated direct cost of ₪7,200, covering entertainment troupe, printed materials, transportation, meals for team members, and games for distribution. Note that these direct costs are significantly inflated by prohibitive commissions charged on money transfers into the region.
Water Distribution (July 10-17): Estimated direct cost for water distributed was $17,500 (70 cubic meters at $250/cubic meter). Additional operational costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance, and team support are significant but not included in this specific breakdown.
Blood Donation Drive (July 28): Estimated direct cost of approximately ₪4,000, covering printing, medical and ambulance team stipends, staff refreshments and logistics, refreshments for donors, transportation, and support for fainting cases.
Water Distribution (July 2, July 4): Specific detailed figures were not provided for these individual days, but primary costs incurred were for water procurement and transport.