Gaza Crippled: Israel’s War Makes Even Walking Deadly
Israel’s war on Gaza has devastated transportation networks and turned even walking into a dangerous act
Total damage to transport infrastructure is estimated at $2.5bn, isolating vast swathes of devastated areas and effectively halting most basic services
In Gaza City, university lecturer Hassan El-Nabih begins each day by fastening his briefcase and laptop to his bicycle, setting out to locate a place where electricity and internet access are available so he can conduct online classes for his students.
Before Israel’s devastating war on Gaza, it was unusual to see a university professor relying on a bicycle for transportation. However, the destruction caused by the conflict has made cycling one of the few practical ways to move around due to damaged infrastructure and the collapse of public transport systems.
El-Nabih explained that his car was badly damaged in December 2023 while parked in Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood. He was visiting relatives when an Israeli air strike hit a nearby building, shattering the car’s windows and destroying the engine. With fuel nearly impossible to obtain and his vehicle unusable, he was forced to find alternative means of transport.
The war has caused extensive damage to Gaza’s already restricted transport infrastructure, with estimated losses reaching about $2.5 billion. According to a joint assessment by the World Bank, the European Union, and the United Nations, approximately 81 percent of Gaza’s road network has been damaged or destroyed, leaving many communities isolated and essential transport services largely halted.
Before the conflict, Gaza’s streets were crowded with vehicles, buses, taxis, and motorcycles, and people without private transport could easily find rides. After more than two years of continuous bombardment, that reality has drastically changed. Many roads are blocked by rubble or considered too dangerous to use, making motorized travel extremely difficult or impossible in some areas.
Abu Mohammed Jundieh, a 55-year-old former driver, lost his car during the early days of the war, which had been both his livelihood and primary means of transportation. He described vehicle ownership as now being far beyond reach due to high prices, scarce fuel, and financial difficulties. He also noted that even when transport is available, drivers often refuse worn or damaged currency notes, making travel even harder. Because many roads are destroyed, he sometimes has to take significantly longer routes, and even walking has become increasingly challenging.
Movement throughout Gaza also carries constant risks due to the threat of Israeli attacks, whether people are travelling or remaining in one place. Even Palestinians permitted to leave through limited openings of the Rafah crossing have often been forced to travel on foot, including those suffering from serious medical conditions.
As bicycles have become more essential, they have shifted from being affordable transport to expensive and scarce items. Abu Luay Haniyeh, who operates a bicycle repair shop on Gaza City’s Jalaa Street, said that before the war, selling bicycles was his main business. Now, he mainly repairs damaged bicycles because new ones are no longer available. He added that bicycles which previously cost less than $200 now sell for more than $1,000, making them unaffordable for many residents.
Due to fuel shortages and damage to vehicles, some people have turned to hand-pulled carts or limited motorcycle use where fuel is available. However, bicycles remain the most dependable and often the only transport option for many Gazans.
Bicycles have also become essential in service sectors such as delivery. Hamama Delivery, which once operated across Gaza using cars and motorcycles, now runs from a tent on al-Shifa Street and relies entirely on bicycles. The company’s manager, Abu Nasser al-Yazji, explained that fuel shortages and destruction of vehicles forced the company to switch transport methods. He added that many of their motorcycles were destroyed and around 50 employees were killed during the war. Despite this, rising unemployment has increased demand for delivery jobs, expanding their workforce.
Delivery riders have modified their bicycles by attaching plastic crates to carry goods such as food, clothing, and household items. However, due to damaged roads and lack of street lighting, the company has reduced its working hours from 24-hour operations to roughly 10 hours daily.
Ahmad, a 23-year-old delivery worker, had been studying law before the war but was forced to leave his studies and work to support himself. He admitted that cycling deliveries was physically exhausting at first but said he never expected to feel grateful for owning a bicycle. He recalled that his mother advised him to buy one early in the war, anticipating that movement would soon become extremely difficult.
He explained that during displacement, bicycles helped families carry belongings and stay together while moving to safer areas. What initially served as a survival tool later became his only source of income. Ahmad said that reliable transportation is now nearly impossible to secure, and without a bicycle, people are effectively stranded.
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