Every person in Gaza has a pair of shoes that they protect by all means and methods, knowing full well that if they tear, they will not find a replacement.

Confusion dominates the faces of mothers and fathers as they stand in front of shoe stores, unable to find what they need. What is available in these stores is limited to shelves and some goods whose quality has been diminished by the Israeli occupation army’s missiles. Even shoes that did not meet local tastes have become a treasure for those who find them these days.

The situation is far from what a mother wishes for her child. The war has taken everything, leaving Gazans with nothing to shield their feet from the scorching sand, which has been intensified by the July heat and the relentless barrage of shells and rockets over the past ten months.

“Returning empty-handed” is the fate of parents when they go to buy shoes for themselves and their children, after their current shoes have worn out from multiple repair attempts at the cobbler’s, where you find many shoes that have been sewn multiple times and can no longer withstand further stitching.

Eyad Asliya, 45, recounts his search for shoes for his children to “Safa” news agency: “I searched the entire market and found no shoes. I have 8 children of varying ages. I tried hard to find something for them but to no avail.”

Asliya, whose home was destroyed by the occupation and who is now displaced in a shelter in northern Gaza, tried to find shoes to alleviate his children’s suffering, who have been forced to walk barefoot for several months after their shoes were repeatedly repaired.

“The lack of shoes makes the children susceptible to various injuries if they step on a nail, which could lead to infections.”

Asliya continues: “I searched extensively for any type of shoe for the kids to prevent any issues. I was shocked to find that the cheapest price available is 200 shekels, and the quality is poor, made of sponge that tears after the first use.”

He adds: “We have no options given the harsh conditions in the north. We turned to custom shoe-making at the cobbler’s to protect our children from the dangers of walking without shoes.”

He expresses his sorrow: “We never imagined we would live this life or reach such a level of suffering and pain. What is happening to us in the north is the price of our steadfastness, and no matter what the occupation does to us, we will remain steadfast and not abandon our land.”

The Israeli occupation has been preventing the entry of shoes and other essential goods into northern Gaza since the war began on October 7.

The situation is not much different for mother Hanan Al-Hadi, 40, who tells “Safa” news agency that “the lack of shoes in the markets is a major problem causing numerous issues.” She adds: “After 10 months of war, we deeply regret not having bought and stored shoes for this time.”

Hanan continues: “The shortage of shoes and their absence made me reduce my visits to my sisters and neighbors. How can I visit them when I have nothing to wear on my feet?”

Hanan expresses her frustration, asking: “Why is this happening to us? We have adapted to the lack of food and accustomed ourselves to the bare minimum, but why is the occupation preventing the entry of shoes? Even those available are extremely expensive, and we do not have enough money to buy them at those prices.”

She adds to “Safa”: “I have repaired my children’s shoes four times, and once even put nails in them to extend their use. But now they are no longer wearable or repairable, so we have turned to custom shoe-making instead of walking barefoot on burning sand that does not distinguish between young and old.”