Shell-Shocked: On the Ground Under Israel's Gaza Assault by Mohammed Omer

Author:Mohammed Omer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: POL035010; BIO026000; HIS019000
ISBN: e9781939293930
Publisher: OR Books
Published: 2015-05-19T04:00:00+00:00

When a shelter is a target

After an Israeli strike hit an UN-run school in the night, Gazan children are fearful of going to sleep. Meanwhile, their parents know that the schools and hospitals traditionally seen as shelters have clearly become targets

GAZA CITY—“In the night, I am frightened by the bombings, missiles and the thought of the blood of injured people in the street,” says eight-year-old Karam Abu Shanab.

“I can’t sleep in the night. My mind is filled with bad images from the Israeli bombs,” he tells his mother, who says her other three children, Saleh, Malak and Sjoud, are all unable to sleep after hearing how children were bombed in their sleep at the UNRWA schools in Jabaliya.

Karam is now taking shelter at al-Rafdeen School in Gaza City. Among the children, there is constant talk about it being bombed and how parents cannot put a stop to it all.

At least 19 died in the attack on Jabaliya refugee camp and another 200 were injured. Israel has been accused of breaking international law over the strike, which was also condemned by the UN as “a source of universal shame.”

Families such as Karam, his mother and his three brothers went to the shelter believing that it would be safe place to take refuge—but no one is safe.

“Everyone is a target here, but where else should we go?” asks Umm Karam while holding children, who fear the next Israeli air strike. “Every day I look at my children and hug them to make them feel safe and sound.”

About 10 days ago, Karam Abu Shanab lost his home and all of his clothes and belongings in the bombardment of eastern Gaza City. Now, al-Rafdeen School is the only shelter he has. His home was one of the 747 homes that have been damaged or totally destroyed since Israel’s current offensive began more than 3 weeks ago.

According to the United Nations, more than 240,000 Palestinians have now sought refuge at UN or government-run schools, at informal shelters or with relatives and friends.

Inside the UNRWA schools, Gaza’s refugees don’t feel safe. Some fled the schools to find other shelter after Israel attacked its second UN school in a week on Wednesday—a UN school that Israel knew was being used as a civilian shelter.

According to the United Nations, this brings the toll of schools attacked and damaged to at least 133 facilities. Another 23 health facilities have also been targeted.

Umm Ahmed Suhawil, 54, knows that schools are targeted, so she has considered trying a hospital, but this is not a safe option either because hospitals have also been directly targeted by Israeli gunfire.

On Thursday morning, an Israeli artillery shell hit Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, leaving one nurse injured. The week before, the same hospital was hit by 10 Israeli tank shells, leaving five dead and 70 injured, says Dr. Khalil Khattab.

Some families decided to split up and go to different shelters hoping that when Israel attacks again, at least some members might survive.

As a

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