18 jan 2009
Amira and Emad
For two days 15-year-old Amira's wound bled without medical treatment. She fled her home, and the dead bodies of her father and two brothers, to an abandoned apartment. She only had a bucket of water, no blankets or first aid equipment for two days as she hid in the building.
It was the home of Ma'an journalist Emad Eid that she found. Emad had moved his family to a different, safer area of Gaza City. He returned to his home when Israeli tanks retreated from Tel Al-Hawa, to see what damage was done.
He found Amira bleeding in his empty home where he had left no food, water of bedding.
Below is a translation of Emad's record of Amira's ordeal.
Excuse me; I have no clue from where to start this story, so I will ask Amira: How did you protect yourself from the bombs? How did you handle the sounds of the tanks when you were by yourself, bleeding, hiding alone for two days?
I am afraid she will not be able to answer me though. I am afraid she has neither the strength nor the courage, though she had the courage to stay alive.
Maybe I can ask her if she remembers what happened to kill her family, or if she was too shocked or unconscious. She did, after all, only have five units of blood left when medics saw her.
No, I cannot ask her if she remembers how her father and two brothers died in front of her eyes; there is too much joy as she is held by her mother who did not expect to find even one of her family members living. I cannot ask of the dead while the living are celebrated.
The medics told me what it means for a small girl to have only five units of blood left. They told me that she was between living and dead. I want to ask Amira where she got her strength to live.
Amira, your 15 years are not enough for this courage; to face death, bombs and the rumble of tanks.
"Forgive me, I entered your house without your permission," she said to me when I found her in on my mother's bed.
She was covered in blood and there were tear-stains on her cheeks. I didn't know how Amira could find the words for an apology.
I left the area with my family. I did not want them to see the tanks drive past our house, or fear the barrels of their guns trained on the windows. But Amira saw.
Though when I found her she was sleeping, or rather hovering between life and death, as the medics said. She must have heard the clashes between the resistance fighters and the Israeli army troops.
"I don't know how I entered to your house Uncle," she said to me, a stranger, when I woke her. "They killed my father and brothers in front of my eyes, they shot a bomb at me and my leg was injured. I ran away from that place, but they shot another bomb that missed me, I found the door of your house open so I came in and stayed on the bed alone, listening to what was going on. I couldn't scream or cry from my bleeding wounds because they would have heard me."
She ran from her demolished home, she ran away seeking for the life that god gave her.
Her family thought she was killed with her father, Fathi Dawoud Alkaram, 42, and brothers Esmat, 12, and Ala, 11, who died when a bomb hit their home. They buried pieces of what they thought was Amira.
The day before we rushed Amira to Ash-Shifa Hospital, her mother buried Fathi, Esmat and Ala. She thought Amira was still beneath the rubble.
When she got word, Amira's mother rushed to the hospital. She cried a great deal. Amira's uncles praised god and thanked him for the miracle of her life.
For two days 15-year-old Amira's wound bled without medical treatment. She fled her home, and the dead bodies of her father and two brothers, to an abandoned apartment. She only had a bucket of water, no blankets or first aid equipment for two days as she hid in the building.
It was the home of Ma'an journalist Emad Eid that she found. Emad had moved his family to a different, safer area of Gaza City. He returned to his home when Israeli tanks retreated from Tel Al-Hawa, to see what damage was done.
He found Amira bleeding in his empty home where he had left no food, water of bedding.
Below is a translation of Emad's record of Amira's ordeal.
Excuse me; I have no clue from where to start this story, so I will ask Amira: How did you protect yourself from the bombs? How did you handle the sounds of the tanks when you were by yourself, bleeding, hiding alone for two days?
I am afraid she will not be able to answer me though. I am afraid she has neither the strength nor the courage, though she had the courage to stay alive.
Maybe I can ask her if she remembers what happened to kill her family, or if she was too shocked or unconscious. She did, after all, only have five units of blood left when medics saw her.
No, I cannot ask her if she remembers how her father and two brothers died in front of her eyes; there is too much joy as she is held by her mother who did not expect to find even one of her family members living. I cannot ask of the dead while the living are celebrated.
The medics told me what it means for a small girl to have only five units of blood left. They told me that she was between living and dead. I want to ask Amira where she got her strength to live.
Amira, your 15 years are not enough for this courage; to face death, bombs and the rumble of tanks.
"Forgive me, I entered your house without your permission," she said to me when I found her in on my mother's bed.
She was covered in blood and there were tear-stains on her cheeks. I didn't know how Amira could find the words for an apology.
I left the area with my family. I did not want them to see the tanks drive past our house, or fear the barrels of their guns trained on the windows. But Amira saw.
Though when I found her she was sleeping, or rather hovering between life and death, as the medics said. She must have heard the clashes between the resistance fighters and the Israeli army troops.
"I don't know how I entered to your house Uncle," she said to me, a stranger, when I woke her. "They killed my father and brothers in front of my eyes, they shot a bomb at me and my leg was injured. I ran away from that place, but they shot another bomb that missed me, I found the door of your house open so I came in and stayed on the bed alone, listening to what was going on. I couldn't scream or cry from my bleeding wounds because they would have heard me."
She ran from her demolished home, she ran away seeking for the life that god gave her.
Her family thought she was killed with her father, Fathi Dawoud Alkaram, 42, and brothers Esmat, 12, and Ala, 11, who died when a bomb hit their home. They buried pieces of what they thought was Amira.
The day before we rushed Amira to Ash-Shifa Hospital, her mother buried Fathi, Esmat and Ala. She thought Amira was still beneath the rubble.
When she got word, Amira's mother rushed to the hospital. She cried a great deal. Amira's uncles praised god and thanked him for the miracle of her life.
Nasser Medical Compound in Khan Younis issued an urgent appeal for nurses in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement.
The hospital said it is calling on Arab nursing unions and international organizations working in healthcare to "urgently send nursing staff" to the Gaza Strip to fill a large void there.
A number of nurses, specifically in surgery, intensive care and emergency services, are particularly in need due to fatigue brought on by three weeks of intense violence in Gaza.
The appeal came as a Jordanian delegation of medical staff arrived to treat the injured in Israel's war on Gaza.
According to Bassam Musalaman, the head of the compound, the delegation was sent from a Jordanian nursing union after coordinating with counterparts in Khan Younis.
Musalaman noted that the Jordanian delegation is composed of four nurses now working "around the clock" to aid Palestinian staff.
The hospital said it is calling on Arab nursing unions and international organizations working in healthcare to "urgently send nursing staff" to the Gaza Strip to fill a large void there.
A number of nurses, specifically in surgery, intensive care and emergency services, are particularly in need due to fatigue brought on by three weeks of intense violence in Gaza.
The appeal came as a Jordanian delegation of medical staff arrived to treat the injured in Israel's war on Gaza.
According to Bassam Musalaman, the head of the compound, the delegation was sent from a Jordanian nursing union after coordinating with counterparts in Khan Younis.
Musalaman noted that the Jordanian delegation is composed of four nurses now working "around the clock" to aid Palestinian staff.
Islamic Jihad's Al-Quds Brigades lost 34 fighters during the Israeli onslaught in Gaza and launched 262 projectiles at Israeli targets, according to their spokesperson on Sunday.
Of the more than 1,300 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire, 34 Al-Quds Brigades fighters and leaders were killed. A statement said those who died were prepared to engage in "fierce" battles with Israeli troops.
Of the projectiles launched, said the spokesperson, 158 were at Ashkelon, Sderot, Kfar Azza, Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Be'eri, Nirim, Miftahim and Eshkol. They claimed to have injured 16 Israeli "settlers" in the attacks and caused structural damage to homes and public properties.
The Brigades said they fired 77 mortars at Megan, Kissufim and gatherings of armored vehicles in the north-central and southeast areas of Gaza, injuring a number of Israeli soldiers.
There were 27 RPGs and 32 explosive charges detonated at armored vehicles and undercover units of the Israeli army, according to the Brigades.
Seven Israeli soldiers were shot, and at least 18 killed and 56 injured as the Brigades detonated explosives in homes where troops were taking cover, the Brigades spokesperson said. There was no way to independently verify the claims.
The Israeli military insists just 10 soldiers were killed in the Gaza fighting.
Of the more than 1,300 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire, 34 Al-Quds Brigades fighters and leaders were killed. A statement said those who died were prepared to engage in "fierce" battles with Israeli troops.
Of the projectiles launched, said the spokesperson, 158 were at Ashkelon, Sderot, Kfar Azza, Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Be'eri, Nirim, Miftahim and Eshkol. They claimed to have injured 16 Israeli "settlers" in the attacks and caused structural damage to homes and public properties.
The Brigades said they fired 77 mortars at Megan, Kissufim and gatherings of armored vehicles in the north-central and southeast areas of Gaza, injuring a number of Israeli soldiers.
There were 27 RPGs and 32 explosive charges detonated at armored vehicles and undercover units of the Israeli army, according to the Brigades.
Seven Israeli soldiers were shot, and at least 18 killed and 56 injured as the Brigades detonated explosives in homes where troops were taking cover, the Brigades spokesperson said. There was no way to independently verify the claims.
The Israeli military insists just 10 soldiers were killed in the Gaza fighting.
Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire on 18 January. John Ging, head of UNRWA operations in Gaza, spoke with IRIN by phone from Gaza City on 17 and 18 January.
Is UNRWA able to deliver assistance to Gaza residents under the current conditions? What type of assistance is being delivered and to how many recipients?
The warehouse and all its contents were destroyed [in the 15 January Israeli attack on the UNRWA compound], and we could not deliver that day.
Gaza is now cut in two, so we are supporting the northern area and Gaza City from the [UNRWA] compound. The following day [16 January] we resupplied the compound from our warehouses in the south. We are continuing with our operations. Trucks are moving, but not safely.
There are 50,000 people are in our temporary shelters in our schools - they have to be fed every day. Some 80 percent of the [Gaza] population is food dependent on us.
Did UNRWA trucks only move during the daily three-hour lull to deliver humanitarian assistance?
We would not be able to support our operation effectively if we were limited to three hours. People were working around the clock in our installations to provide assistance.
The three-hour lull was for the people to feel safer to come out to get the assistance.
Bringing in goods from Kerem Shalom [border crossing] is a day's effort, at least 16 hours, then the supplies have to be unloaded and the goods prepared for distribution.
Today [17 January] 50 trucks entered via Kerem Shalom, but we need hundreds of trucks. The needs are growing exponentially and the pipeline for humanitarian supplies is very narrow. Even those, such as Palestinian Authority employees, who were not dependent [on UNRWA assistance], have become dependent. There is nothing on the market and there is no cash.
Aid - emergency supplies, food and medical - is coming in through Rafah.
Food distribution is operating at almost full capacity - it is interrupted in certain places day to day when the place becomes the scene of fighting.
We do all we can on a daily basis that is within the margins of safety for our staff to keep the operations running.
Seven of 10 food distribution centers are fully operational and 16 out of 20 health centers are fully operational.
UNRWA health staff is volunteering in the Ministry of Health hospitals and on ambulances teams - it's all hands on deck here!
If the border crossings are not opened consistently to bring in goods, will this increase demands on UNRWA?
We cannot contemplate that the crossings will remain closed; there must be a better future. The ordinary people here during this siege have paid the price of this conflict and this operation. For them, their singular priority is access to restore dignity to their existence.
The closures have driven thousands into aid dependency against their will - that has to end. A solution that prioritizes the needs of the ordinary people must be found.
You have headed UNRWA's operations in Gaza since January 2006, before Hamas won elections to govern the enclave. Will Israel's military operation bring peace and stability to the region?
No - it is counter-productive to that objective. The scale of death and destruction is most definitely counter-productive. Throughout this conflict so many experts and global leaders have highlighted there is no military solution to this conflict - an effective political solution is needed.
Now there are additional problems: so many people have been killed and [there has been widespread] destruction of infrastructure. There is no finance ministry or foreign affairs ministry. The American School, the presidential compound and the presidential residences have been destroyed - in addition to the massive destruction of housing. It will be very costly to restore Gaza. This money should have been invested in development not reconstruction.
What do you say about Israel's unilateral ceasefire?
Today [18 January] is a better day than yesterday and we hope there will continue to be positive developments every day until we can restore a dignified existence for the people in Gaza.
***The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the lead UN agency working for Palestinian refugees.
Is UNRWA able to deliver assistance to Gaza residents under the current conditions? What type of assistance is being delivered and to how many recipients?
The warehouse and all its contents were destroyed [in the 15 January Israeli attack on the UNRWA compound], and we could not deliver that day.
Gaza is now cut in two, so we are supporting the northern area and Gaza City from the [UNRWA] compound. The following day [16 January] we resupplied the compound from our warehouses in the south. We are continuing with our operations. Trucks are moving, but not safely.
There are 50,000 people are in our temporary shelters in our schools - they have to be fed every day. Some 80 percent of the [Gaza] population is food dependent on us.
Did UNRWA trucks only move during the daily three-hour lull to deliver humanitarian assistance?
We would not be able to support our operation effectively if we were limited to three hours. People were working around the clock in our installations to provide assistance.
The three-hour lull was for the people to feel safer to come out to get the assistance.
Bringing in goods from Kerem Shalom [border crossing] is a day's effort, at least 16 hours, then the supplies have to be unloaded and the goods prepared for distribution.
Today [17 January] 50 trucks entered via Kerem Shalom, but we need hundreds of trucks. The needs are growing exponentially and the pipeline for humanitarian supplies is very narrow. Even those, such as Palestinian Authority employees, who were not dependent [on UNRWA assistance], have become dependent. There is nothing on the market and there is no cash.
Aid - emergency supplies, food and medical - is coming in through Rafah.
Food distribution is operating at almost full capacity - it is interrupted in certain places day to day when the place becomes the scene of fighting.
We do all we can on a daily basis that is within the margins of safety for our staff to keep the operations running.
Seven of 10 food distribution centers are fully operational and 16 out of 20 health centers are fully operational.
UNRWA health staff is volunteering in the Ministry of Health hospitals and on ambulances teams - it's all hands on deck here!
If the border crossings are not opened consistently to bring in goods, will this increase demands on UNRWA?
We cannot contemplate that the crossings will remain closed; there must be a better future. The ordinary people here during this siege have paid the price of this conflict and this operation. For them, their singular priority is access to restore dignity to their existence.
The closures have driven thousands into aid dependency against their will - that has to end. A solution that prioritizes the needs of the ordinary people must be found.
You have headed UNRWA's operations in Gaza since January 2006, before Hamas won elections to govern the enclave. Will Israel's military operation bring peace and stability to the region?
No - it is counter-productive to that objective. The scale of death and destruction is most definitely counter-productive. Throughout this conflict so many experts and global leaders have highlighted there is no military solution to this conflict - an effective political solution is needed.
Now there are additional problems: so many people have been killed and [there has been widespread] destruction of infrastructure. There is no finance ministry or foreign affairs ministry. The American School, the presidential compound and the presidential residences have been destroyed - in addition to the massive destruction of housing. It will be very costly to restore Gaza. This money should have been invested in development not reconstruction.
What do you say about Israel's unilateral ceasefire?
Today [18 January] is a better day than yesterday and we hope there will continue to be positive developments every day until we can restore a dignified existence for the people in Gaza.
***The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the lead UN agency working for Palestinian refugees.
Israel will not put a "timetable" on the withdrawal of troops from the Gaza Strip until Hamas and other factions stop attacking them, said Israeli government spokesperson Mark Regev Sunday afternoon.
The comments came shortly after a statement from Hamas saying it would agree to the ceasefire so long as Israeli troops leave Gaza within the week. The UN has also called for such a timetable.
Reuters reported Regev as saying "We can't talk about a timetable for withdrawal until we know that the ceasefire is in progress."
An Israeli security source said "the next few hours will be a test for the ceasefire" noting that the Israeli army is prepared to respond to any attacks or projectiles.
Another security source noted that troops will remain in Gaza for fear of an escalation in attacks.
The comments came shortly after a statement from Hamas saying it would agree to the ceasefire so long as Israeli troops leave Gaza within the week. The UN has also called for such a timetable.
Reuters reported Regev as saying "We can't talk about a timetable for withdrawal until we know that the ceasefire is in progress."
An Israeli security source said "the next few hours will be a test for the ceasefire" noting that the Israeli army is prepared to respond to any attacks or projectiles.
Another security source noted that troops will remain in Gaza for fear of an escalation in attacks.
Acting Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas called Israel's ceasefire a step but not enough, and demanded that the Israeli army withdraw from Gaza and open the crossings.
The statement came during a press conference in Cairo after the leader met with this Egyptian counterpart regarding the implementation of the Egyptian Initiative.
Abbas will head to Sharm Ash-Sheikh Sunday afternoon where he will meet with delegations from Europe and the Arab world.
King Abdullah the second of Jordan, French president Nicola Sarkozi, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, German leader Angela Merkel and Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, along with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will attend.
On the agenda for the meeting is a discussion over ways to build on the Israeli unilateral declaration of a ceasefire to a long-term agreement, how to reconstruct Gaza and international efforts on the Palestinian situation after US President Elect Barack Obama replaces George Bush.
Fatah: Israeli ceasefire not good enough; "ploy to mislead international opinion"
The protection of women, children and the elderly is the top priority in the Gaza Strip, said Fatah spokesperson Fahmi Az-Za'areer on Sunday morning.
The priority of protecting vulnerable groups has been central to Fatah's responses to the Israeli offensive from the start. Az-Za'areer added, however, that a ceasefire without Israeli troop withdrawal would not ensure the protection of these groups and so was unacceptable.
Fatah demanded a full withdrawal, a cessation of violence and an opening of Gaza's borders. Az-Za'reer said the ceasefire call is a ploy to mislead the international opinion, quiet diplomatic efforts for a fair end to the offensive in front of the Arab Summit in Kuwait, the inauguration of US President elect Barack Obama and the Sharam Ash-Sheikh meetings with international leaders taking place Sunday.
Az-Za'reer reminded the world that the West Bank is still under Israeli occupation, and has been totally reoccupied since 2002, after Israel's Operation Defensive Shield. He said that he hoped a similar situation would not befall Gaza.
He demanded that no excuses be taken on the issue and that a ceasefire should be a complete cease to aggression through withdrawal from the Palestinian lands and lifting siege and opening all borders.
He confirmed the importance of communications between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak and the international effort through Sharam Ash-Sheikh. The meeting focuses on reaching an agreement that will see UN resolution 1860 enforced in Gaza via the Egyptian initiative.
The statement came during a press conference in Cairo after the leader met with this Egyptian counterpart regarding the implementation of the Egyptian Initiative.
Abbas will head to Sharm Ash-Sheikh Sunday afternoon where he will meet with delegations from Europe and the Arab world.
King Abdullah the second of Jordan, French president Nicola Sarkozi, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Spanish PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, German leader Angela Merkel and Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, along with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will attend.
On the agenda for the meeting is a discussion over ways to build on the Israeli unilateral declaration of a ceasefire to a long-term agreement, how to reconstruct Gaza and international efforts on the Palestinian situation after US President Elect Barack Obama replaces George Bush.
Fatah: Israeli ceasefire not good enough; "ploy to mislead international opinion"
The protection of women, children and the elderly is the top priority in the Gaza Strip, said Fatah spokesperson Fahmi Az-Za'areer on Sunday morning.
The priority of protecting vulnerable groups has been central to Fatah's responses to the Israeli offensive from the start. Az-Za'areer added, however, that a ceasefire without Israeli troop withdrawal would not ensure the protection of these groups and so was unacceptable.
Fatah demanded a full withdrawal, a cessation of violence and an opening of Gaza's borders. Az-Za'reer said the ceasefire call is a ploy to mislead the international opinion, quiet diplomatic efforts for a fair end to the offensive in front of the Arab Summit in Kuwait, the inauguration of US President elect Barack Obama and the Sharam Ash-Sheikh meetings with international leaders taking place Sunday.
Az-Za'reer reminded the world that the West Bank is still under Israeli occupation, and has been totally reoccupied since 2002, after Israel's Operation Defensive Shield. He said that he hoped a similar situation would not befall Gaza.
He demanded that no excuses be taken on the issue and that a ceasefire should be a complete cease to aggression through withdrawal from the Palestinian lands and lifting siege and opening all borders.
He confirmed the importance of communications between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak and the international effort through Sharam Ash-Sheikh. The meeting focuses on reaching an agreement that will see UN resolution 1860 enforced in Gaza via the Egyptian initiative.
Barghouthi: Livni-Rice agreement effort to hide Israeli failure, ceasefire "will fail"
The Livni-Rice agreement is a piece of paper meant to cover up the failures of Israel in the Gaza war and help the nation save face in front of international pressure, said Mustafa Barghuthi on Saturday.
The Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) spoke out about the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday. The memorandum pledges US support to Israel for preventing weapons smuggling from Iran by patrolling the Mediterranean and sending experts into Egypt.
"After 21 days of war on Gaza," Barghouthi said in his statement, "Israel has failed to weaken the resistance and break the will of the Palestinian people. It made the resistance even stronger and re-affirmed the occupation's persistence, moving peace far away by striking the Arab initiative and exposing Annapolis agreement."
The move to call a unilateral ceasefire is akin to "running away from International commitments and reinforcing the occupation not just in Gaza strip but also in the West Bank."
"It will fail," he said.
The only appropriate ending for the war on Gaza, affirmed Barghouthi will be for Israeli leaders and military personnel to face investigation and war crimes committees in order to ensure people are held accountable for the loss of life in Gaza.
The Livni-Rice agreement is a piece of paper meant to cover up the failures of Israel in the Gaza war and help the nation save face in front of international pressure, said Mustafa Barghuthi on Saturday.
The Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI) and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) spoke out about the Memorandum of Understanding signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday. The memorandum pledges US support to Israel for preventing weapons smuggling from Iran by patrolling the Mediterranean and sending experts into Egypt.
"After 21 days of war on Gaza," Barghouthi said in his statement, "Israel has failed to weaken the resistance and break the will of the Palestinian people. It made the resistance even stronger and re-affirmed the occupation's persistence, moving peace far away by striking the Arab initiative and exposing Annapolis agreement."
The move to call a unilateral ceasefire is akin to "running away from International commitments and reinforcing the occupation not just in Gaza strip but also in the West Bank."
"It will fail," he said.
The only appropriate ending for the war on Gaza, affirmed Barghouthi will be for Israeli leaders and military personnel to face investigation and war crimes committees in order to ensure people are held accountable for the loss of life in Gaza.
A Gazan farmer is dead and his son injured by Israeli fire less than ten hours after Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire in the Gaza Strip Sunday morning, medical sources confirmed.
The farmer was identified as 24-year-old Abd As-Samad Abu Rejlieh, who was shot as he went out to his lands to inspect the damage from the 22-day Israeli incursion.
Israeli fire also hit a mother and her daughter in their home in the northern Strip town of Beit Hanoun, both were injured.
Since the ceasefire went into effect at 2am Sunday morning, one is dead and several injured. Medical crews continue to dig bodies out of Gaza rubble.
Israeli reconnaissance planes buzzed overhead throughout the night Sunday, and explosions were heard in several parts of the Strip. Israeli shells fell on a group of Rafah residents in the south, and phosphorus bombs landed in the At-Tuffah neighborhood of eastern Gaza City.
Gazans also reported that an Israeli helicopter shot at a group in line near a Bank of Palestine ATM in Jabaliya.
Eyewitnesses say hundreds of families were seen moving in the streets, heading back to their homes in northern Gaza. One family, caught on film with Al-Jazeera, returned north to the Jabaliya district to find their family home demolished. They dug through the rubble and pulled out more than 25 bodies. One man collapsed when he discovered his brother beneath the debris.
Medical crews reported coming across "the most horrifying scenes," and that most dead bodies being uncovered have been found in pieces. Many had been dead for several days and had begun to decompose. Many of the reeking dead were women and children who stayed in their homes during the clashes and shelling.
Many of the bodies are being buried immediately, given their state of decomposition, and are being identified and by relatives rather than being first transferred to hospital.
Medical teams found four bodies under the rubble after the Israeli tanks partially withdrew from the Al-Atatrah neighborhood in Bet Lahiya north of Jabaliya.
Muawiyah Hassanain, the director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Health Ministry in Gaza said dozens of bodies have been uncovered and recovered from sectors of the Gaza Strip that medical crews and families had not been able to reach because of the intensity of the shelling. He said crews would work all day Sunday to recover the bodies, in coordination with Israeli troops still on the ground.
The corridor between northern and central Gaza remains closed, since troops remain stationed around the former Netsarim settlement. They are reported to have withdrawn from the Zaitoun, Ash-Shaf and At-Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City, away from the homes of citizens.
The death toll of the 22-day war stands at 1,234 with more than 5,450 injured. The number is expected to rise as bodies are found throughout the day.
The farmer was identified as 24-year-old Abd As-Samad Abu Rejlieh, who was shot as he went out to his lands to inspect the damage from the 22-day Israeli incursion.
Israeli fire also hit a mother and her daughter in their home in the northern Strip town of Beit Hanoun, both were injured.
Since the ceasefire went into effect at 2am Sunday morning, one is dead and several injured. Medical crews continue to dig bodies out of Gaza rubble.
Israeli reconnaissance planes buzzed overhead throughout the night Sunday, and explosions were heard in several parts of the Strip. Israeli shells fell on a group of Rafah residents in the south, and phosphorus bombs landed in the At-Tuffah neighborhood of eastern Gaza City.
Gazans also reported that an Israeli helicopter shot at a group in line near a Bank of Palestine ATM in Jabaliya.
Eyewitnesses say hundreds of families were seen moving in the streets, heading back to their homes in northern Gaza. One family, caught on film with Al-Jazeera, returned north to the Jabaliya district to find their family home demolished. They dug through the rubble and pulled out more than 25 bodies. One man collapsed when he discovered his brother beneath the debris.
Medical crews reported coming across "the most horrifying scenes," and that most dead bodies being uncovered have been found in pieces. Many had been dead for several days and had begun to decompose. Many of the reeking dead were women and children who stayed in their homes during the clashes and shelling.
Many of the bodies are being buried immediately, given their state of decomposition, and are being identified and by relatives rather than being first transferred to hospital.
Medical teams found four bodies under the rubble after the Israeli tanks partially withdrew from the Al-Atatrah neighborhood in Bet Lahiya north of Jabaliya.
Muawiyah Hassanain, the director of Ambulance and Emergency Services in the Health Ministry in Gaza said dozens of bodies have been uncovered and recovered from sectors of the Gaza Strip that medical crews and families had not been able to reach because of the intensity of the shelling. He said crews would work all day Sunday to recover the bodies, in coordination with Israeli troops still on the ground.
The corridor between northern and central Gaza remains closed, since troops remain stationed around the former Netsarim settlement. They are reported to have withdrawn from the Zaitoun, Ash-Shaf and At-Tuffah neighborhoods of Gaza City, away from the homes of citizens.
The death toll of the 22-day war stands at 1,234 with more than 5,450 injured. The number is expected to rise as bodies are found throughout the day.
Palestinian factions clashed with Israeli troops still stationed in Gaza Sunday morning, after Israel called a "unilateral ceasefire" to start at 2am the same day.
Even before the ceasefire was called, Gaza factions made it clear that a stop to the violence without the total withdrawal of Israeli troops and the opening of Gaza borders would be unacceptable, and fighting would continue.
Israeli troops have remained stationed around Gaza City, though they have pulled back from residential areas. They are stationed in the southern Strip between Rafah and Khan Younis, and continue to divide the Strip by forming a physical and military road block between the northern and central sectors at the former Israeli settlement of Netsarim.
Militants clashed with troops in the northern Strip near Jabaliya, and others fired several projectiles and Grads into Israel.
According to Israeli sources at least seven Grads were fired, and another six projectiles launched towards the western Negev.
Even before the ceasefire was called, Gaza factions made it clear that a stop to the violence without the total withdrawal of Israeli troops and the opening of Gaza borders would be unacceptable, and fighting would continue.
Israeli troops have remained stationed around Gaza City, though they have pulled back from residential areas. They are stationed in the southern Strip between Rafah and Khan Younis, and continue to divide the Strip by forming a physical and military road block between the northern and central sectors at the former Israeli settlement of Netsarim.
Militants clashed with troops in the northern Strip near Jabaliya, and others fired several projectiles and Grads into Israel.
According to Israeli sources at least seven Grads were fired, and another six projectiles launched towards the western Negev.
GAZA: 18 January
Many Gazans are said to be exhausted by the conflict
A ceasefire has been announced and the shelling has stopped. At the beginning I didn't believe it as in the early morning I could hear the sound of heavy fire and then the sound of the F-16s and the drones which never left Gaza's sky for three weeks.
Outside my home I saw more people going out to visit their families and loved ones and to find out how they have coped and to catch up on news. Many sorrowful stories are being shared today.
I saw a numbers of moving cars. I saw a lot of displaced people rushing to see what happened with their homes. Many tents have been set up to receive mourners so people can pay their condolences.
The people I met today were very sad and exhausted. I saw many of my friends and colleagues whom I haven't seen for more than 22 days. We hugged each other as if we hadn't met for years.
This is war has destroyed a lot of things in Gaza. The war has violently impacted on homes, mosques, schools, institutions, roads and more importantly on the hearts of people.
I have seen things which I will never forget all my life. I remember a nine-year-old girl who was holding her baby sister in one of the shelters in Gaza. They became orphans.
I also can't forget a mother who was crying for many days after losing her son. Also, a father who was struggling to feed his small children.
Entire families have been devastated and many women have been widowed. A lot of fathers lost their wives and children.
Islamic Relief's programmes in Gaza will be working to support orphans and widows - to ensure that they have food and widowed women and men are able to earn money to feed their families through livelihoods projects.
An estimated 1,300 Palestinians died during the attacks on the Gaza Strip. It is believed that half of those that died are civilians. Doctors have told me that the numbers of dead will rise as hundreds of patients are in critical conditions and may not survive.
I spent most of the day with the Islamic Relief team distributing aid in the north of Gaza Strip, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia. We handed out bread to hundreds of displaced people.
I met Wisal, an eight-year-old girl, who told me the ceiling of her home had fallen on her and her family two weeks ago. They survived but their neighbour was killed.
I met another child, Mahmoud, 12, who had a similar story but his hand was critically injured. Wisal and Mahmoud are two children among thousands who had awful stories.
Today tens of dead bodies were dug out from under the rubble of homes. Surviving family members had to wait until the ceasefire to try and find out if their loved ones had survived. Miracles are few and far between in shattered Gaza and all people found were bodies.
For the past 22 days, Islamic Relief Worldwide in Gaza has some how managed to keep working despite the dangers that our teams face. Thankfully none of the aid workers were injured but the scenes they saw will have a long term effect for sure. Islamic Relief Worldwide is working very hard to alleviate the suffering of the desperate people of Gaza.
We have provided hospitals in the Gaza Strip with urgent medical equipment such as heart machines, IV fluid drips and ambulances. We have also supplied hospitals with medicine, food and blankets for the injured and displaced.
Today, we delivered three major hospitals with life saving medical equipment such equipments such as DC shock machines, heart monitors, fusion pumps, ventilators and equipment for operating rooms. The level of damage and destruction is huge and Islamic Relief Worldwide will spend years trying to assist the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives.
Today - I fully understood just how much we must do to rebuild and revive the lives of Gazans - my people and the place that I call home.
A ceasefire has been announced and the shelling has stopped. At the beginning I didn't believe it as in the early morning I could hear the sound of heavy fire and then the sound of the F-16s and the drones which never left Gaza's sky for three weeks.
Outside my home I saw more people going out to visit their families and loved ones and to find out how they have coped and to catch up on news. Many sorrowful stories are being shared today.
I saw a numbers of moving cars. I saw a lot of displaced people rushing to see what happened with their homes. Many tents have been set up to receive mourners so people can pay their condolences.
The people I met today were very sad and exhausted. I saw many of my friends and colleagues whom I haven't seen for more than 22 days. We hugged each other as if we hadn't met for years.
This is war has destroyed a lot of things in Gaza. The war has violently impacted on homes, mosques, schools, institutions, roads and more importantly on the hearts of people.
I have seen things which I will never forget all my life. I remember a nine-year-old girl who was holding her baby sister in one of the shelters in Gaza. They became orphans.
I also can't forget a mother who was crying for many days after losing her son. Also, a father who was struggling to feed his small children.
Entire families have been devastated and many women have been widowed. A lot of fathers lost their wives and children.
Islamic Relief's programmes in Gaza will be working to support orphans and widows - to ensure that they have food and widowed women and men are able to earn money to feed their families through livelihoods projects.
An estimated 1,300 Palestinians died during the attacks on the Gaza Strip. It is believed that half of those that died are civilians. Doctors have told me that the numbers of dead will rise as hundreds of patients are in critical conditions and may not survive.
I spent most of the day with the Islamic Relief team distributing aid in the north of Gaza Strip, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and Jabalia. We handed out bread to hundreds of displaced people.
I met Wisal, an eight-year-old girl, who told me the ceiling of her home had fallen on her and her family two weeks ago. They survived but their neighbour was killed.
I met another child, Mahmoud, 12, who had a similar story but his hand was critically injured. Wisal and Mahmoud are two children among thousands who had awful stories.
Today tens of dead bodies were dug out from under the rubble of homes. Surviving family members had to wait until the ceasefire to try and find out if their loved ones had survived. Miracles are few and far between in shattered Gaza and all people found were bodies.
For the past 22 days, Islamic Relief Worldwide in Gaza has some how managed to keep working despite the dangers that our teams face. Thankfully none of the aid workers were injured but the scenes they saw will have a long term effect for sure. Islamic Relief Worldwide is working very hard to alleviate the suffering of the desperate people of Gaza.
We have provided hospitals in the Gaza Strip with urgent medical equipment such as heart machines, IV fluid drips and ambulances. We have also supplied hospitals with medicine, food and blankets for the injured and displaced.
Today, we delivered three major hospitals with life saving medical equipment such equipments such as DC shock machines, heart monitors, fusion pumps, ventilators and equipment for operating rooms. The level of damage and destruction is huge and Islamic Relief Worldwide will spend years trying to assist the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives.
Today - I fully understood just how much we must do to rebuild and revive the lives of Gazans - my people and the place that I call home.
Other news/attack links
Israeli army seizes Palestinian boy they say was carrying knife
Israel stops aid convoy en route to Gaza from Hebron
Israel seized more children in first days of 2009 than any other month
Fatah calls for unity, exposure of Israeli aggression
Israeli army seizes Palestinian boy they say was carrying knife
Israel stops aid convoy en route to Gaza from Hebron
Israel seized more children in first days of 2009 than any other month
Fatah calls for unity, exposure of Israeli aggression
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