When children arrive at the zoo near Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, they often see a lion staring vaguely through the bars and chimpanzees sitting listlessly in their enclosure. Many animals are undernourished and weakened due to shortages of food, medicine, and vaccines, yet they persist, largely thanks to the efforts of zoo owner Mahmoud Gomaa.
Originally, Gomaa operated the zoo in Rafah, a southern city, but he was forced to flee when Israeli troops attacked and took control of parts of the area in 2024. As the conflict intensified, he relocated the surviving animals from one town to another before settling in Nuseirat in central Gaza earlier this year.
In Gaza, Gomaa reopened the zoo with hopes of providing some relief for traumatized children after nearly three years of destruction. He shared that at the start of the war, his priority was to save the animals, even more than himself, as the struggle for survival engulfed everyone.
Prior to the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza boasted a number of zoos showcasing exotic and wild animals like lions and eagles, according to municipal records. Now, maintaining such facilities faces enormous obstacles, especially in sourcing sufficient food for the animals amid a strained food supply for the human population.
Veterinarian Nidal Fadel explained that animals are being fed frozen meat, which is harmful because they naturally hunt fresh prey: “This is a catastrophe and a poor nutritional plan.” The war has taken a direct toll on the animals, with Gomaa recalling leaving behind lions, crocodiles, and ostriches when he fled Rafah. When he returned months later, only bones remained of the crocodiles and ostriches, and the lions were gone.
The trauma inflicted by the sounds and sights of ongoing conflict profoundly impacts the animals. Veterinarian Amir Khalil, who has organized rescue missions into Gaza, noted that lions are particularly sensitive, detecting sounds and disturbances humans often miss. “Constant bombing and conflict create tremendous stress and fear for them,” Khalil said.
Inside the zoo in Nuseirat, the solitary lion barely acknowledged visitors, but children found joy in interacting with other animals—parrots perched on shoulders and smaller monkeys that they could pet. Despite the ongoing hostilities and a fragile ceasefire, the zoo provides a rare spot of respite, although Israel’s military, claiming its strikes target Hamas, hasn’t responded to inquiries about civilian infrastructure like zoos and their animals.
Karam Al-Mazin, a 42-year-old visitor, lamented the current situation: “Today, there’s no place for children to play. All that’s left are rubble, stones, and tents. The kids are bored and going through a tough time.”
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