The war on Gaza has caused a severe transportation crisis where there was once reliable and inexpensive service. Photo: Reem Abd

Traveling around the Gaza Strip was an easy and natural aspect of daily life prior to the war. It wasn’t hard or stressful to stand on the street to flag a shared taxi on a regular route. Even for fairly distant destinations, the fee seldom exceeded 1 or 2 shekels, or about half a dollar, and most streets had an adequate number of taxis in circulation.

Because everything ran well and there was no shortage of cash, we didn’t have to think about having precise change. Travel was a routine activity that could be undertaken without thought or worry. We could get a ride at any time, whether we were going to work, to school, or to visit our families. 

I am deeply frustrated and sad when I think back on those days when public transport could be taken for granted. 

The war has turned everything upside-down. All aspects of life have become much more difficult, including transportation. Prices have skyrocketed, partly as a result of the real shortage of fuel and the limited number of functioning cars that can be used as taxis.

This has turned daily travel into a real struggle. A short ride that used to cost one or 2 shekels can cost as much as 5- 7 shekels, while distant trips can cost 15 shekels or more. To that one must add the bank transaction fee of 1-2 shekels.

The problem isn’t just the rising prices; it’s compounded by a lack of cash, especially coins. (The smallest paper denomination is the 20 shekel note $6.85] and drivers may not be able to make change for their passengers.) People find it increasingly difficult to find the necessary change, making every trip a cause for anxiety.

Some taxi drivers have found ways to make things easier for their passengers. As a temporary solution, they have started taking card payments, enabling their passengers to send the fare electronically using a bank or digital wallet rather than cash.

However, this method isn’t adopted by all drivers. Drivers frequently feel uneasy about bank transactions, uncertain that they will receive their money, especially because in Gaza the internet is so unreliable.

Some consent only if you give them your phone number in case the transfer fails, but others refuse to take any electronic payments at all. This variation in policy over taxi fares is an indication of how serious the situation is and how it affects both drivers and passengers.

But goodwill and generosity are still evident in spite of these difficult circumstances. People with private vehicles are always willing to lend a hand without expecting anything in return, particularly when you are going the same way as they are. These little acts of kindness and solidarity help us continue despite the war’s brutality.

Some Gazans have transformed motorcycles into makeshift taxis because of a shortage of fuel and the destruction of cars. Photo: Reem Abd

My own experience offers a good illustration of this. One day, because I had no change, I was having trouble getting to a lecture at the Islamic University in Gaza City. The walk would have taken approximately an hour, so I was walking fast, almost running, to avoid being late.

Suddenly an old man pulled over, got out of his car, and asked if I needed a ride. When I said yes, he took me without requesting any payment. His act of goodwill reminded me that kindness endures and that the principles we were brought up with can survive even in the most trying situations.

On another occasion, a driver drove me to my destination even though I didn’t have cash and couldn’t immediately transfer the fare because the internet was down. He was willing to trust a stranger to deliver the funds at some indefinite future date.

In the end, there is much more to existence in Gaza during the conflict than just meeting basic needs and gaining access to necessary services. In a world where humanity frequently feels diminished, our difficulties are a test of our resilience and our capacity to continue to look out for one another. These qualities make it possible for us to overcome obstacles and maintain hope despite seemingly hopeless circumstances.

We must hold on to those little moments that help us forget all the struggles we are facing, such as climbing travel costs and the shortage of cash. Despite everything that has happened to and in Gaza, it is still possible to find kind individuals who extend themselves for others. Their small acts of kindness have a deep spiritual impact in these difficult days.

This article is co-published with Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.