Message from Gaza
Writer:Prof. Abdelwahed
(Department of English Faculty of Arts & Humanities Al-Azhar University of Gaza)
Background of the writer in detail
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 8:41 PM
Subject: Hello from the destoryed Gaza!
Junday 18 January 2009 (Day 23 invasion)
Ceasefire in Gaza! Is it a ceasefire? I doubt it!
This morning (Sunday 18 January 2009) Israel declared a one-sided ceasefire,
however, on the ground they kept shooting at the contact areas. On the other
side of the fence, hours later, the Palestinian organizations declared a
ceasefire. Meantime, unmanned planes did not leave Gaza skies, and F16s
targeted several places even after 12 hours of Israel's declaration of the
ceasefire.
Elsewhere rescue operations continued. Only today more than 100 dead bodies
were found under debris and in the other places in the fields and back
streets in Zietoun neighborhood and in the northern parts of Gaza Strip, and
where the Israeli army attacked and demolished! Many whole families
including children were found under the rubble and demolished homes. Medical
sources mentioned that 20% of the dead found today, were not identified!
Among the dead bodies found, 17 were totally decayed, thus they were buried
in one grave! Among the lamented families was al-Sammoni extended family
that lived in the eastern part of Zeitoun neighborhood. In the early days of
the offensive, the Israelis killed 13 from that family! Being civilians,
they raised white flags and wanted a passage off that area but they were
shot at and killed, and then the Israeli soldiers killed from the same
family 15 others inside their homes! Today, as the ceasefire is in effect,
rescue teams found 21 bodies of that same family again; it was said that
50-60 people from that family were shot dead by the Israeli soldiers during
the invasion!
The dead included children, women, and elderly. Death toll amounted to 1300
people. It’s unbelievable, incredible and mind-boggling by all means!
Innocent civilians paid the most expensive price; they paid their lives! It
was genocide!
The whole Gaza society is depressed for the losses of souls, havoc,
devastation, wreckage, casualties and annihilation! Huge losses were seen in
the agricultural fields, farmers' homes, and everything around them!
Depression, trauma, shocks and pain are common among the civilians! I am
shaken by the psychological situation around! Wherever the Israeli soldiers
attacked inside the residential buildings they turned the place into
disarray! They scribbled on walls Hebrew threats of death, bad language,
David star and they scribbled on the Holy Quran too.
The Israelis still call by telephone Palestinian homes threatening them of
another punishment! In the afternoon, an Israeli aircrafts threw anti-Hamas
leaflets on the western parts of Gaza. It was a silly behavior because
everyone in Gaza has experienced the Israelis mastering terrorism against
whoever is a Palestinian regardless of his/her political affiliation; it was
an all out war against the Palestinian existence! Throwing leaflets was a
stupid behavior! That silly behavior did not move anyone after the ruthless
attacks on civilians everywhere in Gaza Strip and the huge number of
casualties, and the crazy number of deaths and losses among the people. What
a leaflet can do to anyone civilian after he or she was bombed by F16
fighter-bomber. It's all idiot behavior!
Tonight is a time of cautious silence and anticipation in Gaza! The whole
situation may flare up or explode at any moment! There are fears of other
deployments of the Israeli tanks. I can hear a reconnaissance airplane over
our heads right now. They have been watching everything! What else will
Israel target? I just wonder! There are still untold stories of horror,
destruction and death everywhere in Gaza. It is still that 80% of Gaza city
live without electricity.
Day 24 invasion time:
One day after the ceasefire comes into effect. Israeli F16 is over our
heads! Tanks are still inside Gaza Strip. This morning Israeli warships
shelled somewhere in Gaza. We heard it very clear! Gaza infrastructure is
devastated. He who gets electricity and water is lucky. It is impossible
that those who live in the edges of Gaza have telephone lines. Some areas
have turned into debris, barren and desolate land. Today found more dead
bodies of el-Sammouni's family. Also, found dead body of Elina el-Jarou, a
Ukranian wife of a Palestinian doctor. One of her children was found dead
with her too whereas her young daughter was found in Shifa hospital's ICU.
Five foreigners reported killed in the invasion.
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