In the crowded hospitals of Gaza, the struggle against the effects of war extends beyond doctors and nurses to include cleaning staff, who find themselves at the front lines of the health and humanitarian crisis. Working under severe conditions and with nearly nonexistent resources, these women face the dual burdens of being displaced and suffering income loss while maintaining their crucial roles in hospital operations. The situation has pushed them into multifaceted roles, where their tasks now exceed mere cleaning to include security responsibilities and other essential functions in the hospital framework.

One cleaning worker, Ghada Za'arab, from the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, reported that the ongoing war has dramatically altered their work nature. No longer confined to cleaning, they are now integral to hospital operations, effectively becoming informal paramedics and security personnel while dealing with the emotional toll that comes with witnessing suffering and loss. This transformation speaks to the broader impacts of wartime conditions on civilian life, emphasizing how women, often overlooked in discussions of war, play crucial roles in caring for their communities even amidst chaos.

The added stress of displacement and dire living conditions compounds their struggles, as they work long hours, often missing out on seeing their children. The emotional and practical pressures they face reflect a larger narrative of resilience and adaptation among those affected by prolonged conflict. The situation not only sheds light on the underappreciated labor of cleaning workers in healthcare but also underscores the profound impacts of sustained violence on societal structures, revealing a powerful story of endurance and the hidden struggles of those keeping essential services afloat during crises.