North Gaza residents endure escalating terror as Israeli violence intensifies
Residents, especially in the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, are witnessing an unprecedented level of destruction as Israeli forces intensify their bombing campaign, according to eyewitness accounts.
"The sound of explosive demolition is very loud, like we’ve never experienced before. Despite this, the people, particularly in Jabalia, are not budging from their homes," an eyewitness told Middle East Eye.
"People are saying, we would sooner die in the streets than leave to the south because even people in the south have been saying, ‘better to die in Gaza city than die in the south’, because while death is the same, life in the south is unbearable and much harder than in the north. People are living in tents and humiliation," the eyewitness said.
For eight consecutive days, Israeli forces have pummelled the Jabalia refugee camp with air strikes and artillery shelling, ordering residents to leave their homes and head south to the Mawasi "humanitarian zone".
Hundreds of Palestinians are known to have been killed or wounded in the Jabalia camp, as well as the cities of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. Aid agencies have warned that the death toll is likely to be far higher after three hospitals were ordered to shut down their operations.
The noise of buildings being demolished is unlike anything the people have experienced before, leaving the city engulfed in fear.
"At home we’ve prepared our bags just in case. We live in the centre of Gaza city. If they surround the city, it will be a disaster," mentioned the eyewitness who did not wish to give his name.
"But still, people are holding on and refusing to leave, in Jabalia, Gaza City, Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun. It’s not easy, there are many victims, but at the same time, I expect this will make it harder on the Israelis to implement their plans, even though they do what they want. Nothing is clear, there’s fear but people are trying to support each other and alleviate the situation for one another. The expulsion orders are now covering wide areas, in blocks."
"I won’t go south unless they open the crossing. I’m here with my siblings, 14 people, where would we go? There’s no place for us all. My uncle lives below us, they are 18 people. What is making matters worse is the shortage of food. No aid is coming in," he added.
"The food that is available comes from the limited distribution of what was already in Gaza before the attack. People have been hungry for a long time. The sound of tanks as they move at night is terrifying and the sound of their shelling is terrifying. For the past four nights, the Israeli army has launched flare bombs that illuminate all of Gaza City, which is terrifying people. I hope it’s a limited operation and they will withdraw soon,” he said.