{
  "id": 19597479,
  "title": "‘I'm 28, but I look 40’: How war has changed the faces of Gaza",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/im-28-but-i-look-40-how-war-has-changed-the-faces-of-gaza",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/11/12/im-28-but-i-look-40-how-war-has-changed-the-faces-of-gaza/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Gaza, three years of ongoing war have dramatically altered the appearance of many residents, as reported by The National. Mustafa Musa, a 28-year-old resident, now feels he looks much older, at least 10 years, due to the physical and psychological toll of the conflict. His weight has dropped from 90kg to 73kg, and his face and hands have darkened from prolonged sun exposure. The war has disrupted his daily routine, leaving him with less time for personal care.\n\nAfaf Hamada, 42, shares similar experiences. Prior to the war, she took great care of her appearance, but now, she struggles with cracked and painful hands, thinning hair, and a realization that her age is more apparent than ever. The war has disrupted her ability to maintain her hygiene, with tasks like laundry and cooking now performed manually instead of with washing machines and appliances.\n\nMohammed Abu Sufian, 31, also notes the significant impact the war has had on his appearance. He recalls a time when life was peaceful and stable, but now his face reflects the stress and hardships he's endured. He has even begun to notice grey hairs, a change he had never experienced before the conflict.\n\nFor young women like Sireen Abu Harbeed, the changes in appearance can be particularly distressing. Displaced from Beit Hanoun and now living in Gaza city, she has seen her hair and complexion deteriorate due to a lack of proper care products and resources. The loss of privacy and control over daily life has left her feeling distressed when she looks in the mirror, as it evokes memories of a life now gone.",
  "summary": "After three years of war in Gaza , Mustafa Musa struggles to recognise the person he sees in the mirror. “I am 28 years old, but when I look in the mirror, I think I look 40,” he told The National . “The war has changed everything about us, but what it has changed most is our appearance, our facial features, and every detail of who we were before the war.” Mr Musa weighed 90kg before the war; he…",
  "key_points": [
    "Mustafa Musa, 28, feels 10 years older due to war's toll",
    "Afaf Hamada struggles with cracked hands, thinning hair post-war",
    "Mohammed Abu Sufian notices grey hairs from stress and hardship"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The erosion of basic hygiene resources and the relentless psychological strain of conflict are forcing residents to bear the visible, premature physical markers of a prolonged humanitarian crisis.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}