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GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE - APRIL 30: Displaced Gazan puppeteer Mahdi Atiya Karera has been striving to continue his craft by recycling tin cans in a makeshift studio of an abandoned building, located in the Deir Al-Balah city of Gaza Strip, under the shadow of Israeli attacks. Amidst the sounds of gunfire and bombs, Karera endeavors to bring joy to the faces of Gazan children who are growing up amidst the horrors of war, aiming to alleviate some of the negative effects of conflict. Speaking to Anadolu, Palestinian puppet master Karera shared his story: "I specialize in puppetry and creating puppets for shadow theater and string puppets. Unfortunately, after the Israeli aggression on Gaza, there are no longer puppets or theaters, as everything was left behind in Gaza City." Facing a scarcity of resources, Karera has encountered challenges in finding materials essential for his craft. "I found that there are no raw materials available except for recyclables in various sizes and shapes around us. So, I've tried to utilize them as a way to invest in both the environment and our art. Creating puppets that tell our stories, the stories of children, helps us continue our journey," he explained. Looking ahead, Karera expressed his aspirations, saying: "Inshallah, I have the ambition to create a large mobile theater that incorporates these characters, many puppets, and numerous stories and productions. With it, we aim to reach every corner of Gaza." Israel has waged an unrelenting offensive on the Palestinian enclave since a cross-border attack by Hamas last Oct. 7 which killed some 1,200 people. More than 34,500 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and thousands injured amid mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities. (Footage by Anas Zeyad Fteha/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)