'All young people are feeling desperate. We have no jobs, no life'

Anan, a 20-year old from Gaza City, told Middle East Eye that regardless of whether there was a war or not, young people in the Gaza Strip felt hopeless:

"We have been in this scenraio more than one time. We had hoped that our situation would improve," he said.

He explained that the rockets fired towards Israel were the only means that Palestinian armed groups had to apply pressure on Israel over the more than a decade long siege of the enclave.

"We can't breath in Gaza anymore. As the siege becomes stronger and the economic situation gets worse we don’t feel we have any other choice except to put pressure on Israel this way," he said.

"This siege has been too long for us - as a young Palestinian we are under pressure either way, whether it’s war or not. I find myself supporting this escalation - maybe this will be the only way we can remove the siege, which is the only thing I want."

"All young people are feeling desperate. We have no jobs, no life. Even the university educated ones have no jobs.