last night might have been the worst night yet

Posted on 29/07/2014 by esta

as reports slowly emerge out of gaza, it seems that last night might have been the worst night yet so far. and it is not over: at least 100 persons have been murdered since midnight alone. and that is scary. where are they heading ?

150 “targets” hit over night according to haaretz http://tiny.cc/j3yqjx), especially in the north and south of gaza. at least 60 palestinians were killed, taking the death toll up to 1,137 palestinians since july 8, and over 6500 injured (many of whom in serious conditions or maimed for life). the port, fishing market, several mosques, the al aqsa tv building, al quds news agency, building of the ministry of finance, building of the ministry of agriculture, haniye’s house together with at least 43 other houses were bombed.

House of mayor of Bureij Camp in central Gaza bombed last night, killing him, nephew (10) & father (70). Photo by Sharif Kouddous

House of mayor of Bureij Camp in central Gaza bombed last night, killing him, nephew (10) & father (70). Photo by Sharif Kouddous

 

Gaza's ministry of finance building bombed last night by Israeli military. Now a pile of rubble. Photo by Sharif Kouddous

Gaza’s ministry of finance building bombed last night by Israeli military. Now a pile of rubble. Photo by Sharif Kouddous

here’s footage (by the bbc, as shitty as they are) of the bombing of the al aqsa media tower

http://youtu.be/SnIFoj1LxBM

“This is the most fierce night we ever had,” Aya Humaid told Middle East Eye, adding that the bombing continued from air, sea and ground for 10 hours. “This is the night when Israel has used a scorched earth policy,” Humid adds.palestinian resistance fighters accessed a military base and killed five soldiers, a total of ten soldiers were killed yesterday, bringing the toll to 53 soldiers and 3 civilians (among them one unprotected bedouin and one thai worker)

anne says they used a lot of flares. maha, another friend, made this fb video from her window. this is what maha wrote this morning

That was the hardest night ever. It was the first time I see such things from my window, the sky was all lighten up by light bombs. I spent the night watching the reflection of their light on the wall of my room. They have shelled many places in my neighborhood and other areas across the Strip. Explosions didn’t stop for one single minute. Electricity was off and it was getting more dangerous every minute. Those murderers have literally gone crazy! We haven’t slept for a single minute … A video from my window to be uploaded soon.

also read teenager farah baker’s tweets from last night.

this morning, gaza’s only power plant was (as usual during these major military assaults) bombed, causing a raging fire in gaza city that firefighters are still struggling to contain. there are fears about total electricity cuts in gaza in a place that already had insufficient electricity access due to both the siege and regular targetting of the power plant in previous attacks.

raging fire after gaza's only power plant was bombed. photo by oliver weiken

raging fire after gaza’s only power plant was bombed. photo by oliver weiken

today, the attacks continue. residents of khan younis were told to evacuate around noon today. the nightmare not only continues, but it continues on such  unrestraint scale … remember lebanon 2006, where in the last three days of war, the zionists bathed the entire south in cluster bombs, effectively rendering it a murderous place to live for years to come?

i think this is what they are doing now: it’s obviously not about tunnels, it’s about destroying as much of civilian infrastructure (homes!, mosques, schools, hospitals, roads, media stations, THE one and only power plant, port, etc.) before anything could actually lead to a ceasefire.

murderers. i write, but  … i have no words or ways to even feel what i feel

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Posted on 29/07/2014 by esta

article by mohammad suliman in gaza. like a lot of it’s writing, it’s spot-on

Hamas might soon stop firing rockets, but then will Israel cease to exercise its violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank on a daily basis? The reality is that if Palestinians stop resisting, Israel won’t stop occupying, as its leaders repeatedly affirm. The besieged Jews of the Warsaw ghetto had a motto “to live and die in dignity.” As I sit in my own besieged ghetto, I think how Palestinians have honored this universal value. We live in dignity and we die in dignity, refusing to accept subjugation.

We’re tired of war. I, for one, have had enough of bloodshed, death and destruction. But I also can no longer tolerate the return to a deeply unjust status quo. I can no longer agree to live in this open-air prison. We can no longer tolerate to be treated as sub-humans, deprived of our most basic human rights. We are trapped here, trapped between two deaths: death by Israeli bombs and missiles, and death by Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

the entire article here

 

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940 killed in gaza and 12 in the west bank this week alone

Posted on 26/07/2014 by esta

about gaza:

ben white: “According to #Gaza‘s MoH, Israel has killed 900 Palestinians and wounded 6,000 (as of 09.25 26 July). This includes 20 members of the al-Najjar family who died when Israel shelled a building in Khan Yunis early morning today. They had already fled Khuza’a, and the horrors you can read about here: http://bit.ly/1qD55yt. A 12-hour humanitarian truce went into effect at 08.00 local time – however, the IDF said it will continue to “locate & neutralise” tunnels during this window, and has also warned displaced residents not to return home. The most recent UN OCHA update (correct as of 15.00 25 July) recorded 649 civilians killed by Israel, 76% of the then total fatalities. 92 UNRWA installations have sustained damage, along with 18 hospitals and clinics (http://bit.ly/1pVrkdN). In the West Bank, meanwhile, Israeli forces and settlers have killed 9 Palestinians since Thursday. A total of 13 Palestinians have been killed in one week in the West Bank (11 by soldiers, 2 by settlers). Israel confirmed 2 soldiers killed in Gaza Friday evening, raising the military death toll to 37. 2 Israeli civilians & Thai worker have also been killed.”

ashira hakan: “Prior to the 12-hour ceasefire going into effect, Israel intensified its shelling and bombing of Gaza. 28 Palestinians killed, 20 from one single family. Al-Najjar family left its home in the village of Khuza’a to seek refuge in Khan Younis refugee camp south of Gaza after their village was heavily shelled. The area where they settled was bombed by Israeli warplanes minutes before this morning’s ceasefire took effect. They are no longer here. Among those killed were 11 children and 4 women. Those identified thus far are: Khalil Al-Najjar, Jana Al-Najjar, Samir Al-Najjar, Ikhlas Al-Najjar, Husam Al-Najjar, Amna Al-Najjar, and Iman Al-Ruqob. Another day in Gaza, another family perished

in the west bank, in addition to one killed tuesday by a settler and two wednesday in hossan by soldiers, AND two in the historic clashes at qalandia checkpoint thursday night, SEVEN were killed during protests yesterday. there have been massive clashes in many other places.

the west bank and east jerusalem (my guess is palestinians in 48 as well) are FURIOUS and on the streets. it’s been years since it last happened to this extent. my hope is that this will scare the zionists enough to stop the massacre in gaza AND agree to lift the siege. otherwise, my hope is that people won’t be calmed, as worrying as that is for me, and as much as i wished i was there. it’s even harder now not to be in palestine, and i worry for people personally, yes, but i am PROUD of people and hopeful,

read here

it

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update 25.07.: hospital and unrwa school attacked, resistance in qalandia and jerusalem

Posted on 25/07/2014 by esta

CORRECTION: two palestinians were shot dead during protests in qalandia last night, seven today. more later.

as i’m writing this, at least 815 palestinians in gaza were murdered and 5,237 injured since the beginning of this military onslaught. by yesterday evening, 116 palestinains had been killed on wednesday alone. (this site and this site collect pictures of some of the martyrs when they were alive) in stark asymmetrie, 35 occupation soldiers, two other israeli citizens, one of whom was an unprotected bedouin, and a thai worker were killed. according to ocha’s latest report, 44% of 360km², a place that is smaller than many cities (berlin: 892km², 1572km², madrid: 606km²). there are families and whole communities trapped and without access to food or water. the number of internally displaced people is already three times the number during cast lead. this is significant – the occupation army is intentionally targetting residential buildings and areas – often killing and maiming people – and destroying civilian homes and infrastructures. according to this ocha snapshot, by tuesday, 2,655 housing units were destroyed or severly damaged, while 3,175 housing units were damaged, but still inhabitable. these numbers are now higher. it is a policy of targetted displacement as laid out in the dahiya doctrine.

yesterday afternoon, occupation soldiers bombed another one of the 83 UNRWA schools that now shelter over 141,000 internally displaced people. at least 16 people were killed and 150 injured. here is a segment from al jazeera’s report on the bombing:

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Chris Gunness, the spokesman for UNRWA, the UN’s humanitarian organisation in Gaza, said his organisation had been in contact with Israeli forces as fighting closed in on the shelter.

“We gave the Israelis the precise GPS coordinates of the Beit Hanoun shelter. We were trying to coordinate a window [for evacuation] and that was never granted,” he said.
He said he could neither confirm nor deny that Hamas fighters were near the building, but said Israel and Hamas “must respect the inviolability of UN premises, and humanitarian law”.

He called the attack “tragic and appalling”.

Robert Turner, the director of UNRWA, told Al Jazeera there was no warning from the Israelis before the shells landed.

“This is a designated emergency shelter,” he said. “This was an installation we were managing, that was monitored [to ensure] that our neutrality was maintained.”

see the report and watch the video of the aftermath of the bombing by itv news as we..

in addition, the occupation also bombed al dora hospital in gaza city. two year old ibrahim al sheikh omar – who was in the icu at the time – was killed and 30 others were injured. this in addition to the attacks on wafa hospital, the bombing of al aqsa hospital on monday that killed 5 people and injured 70, the attack on the water network of beit hanoun hospital that injured an ambulance driver.

also, yesterday, news emerged that occupation army had kidnapped 150 palestinians from gaza and brought them to an unknown destination as prisoners. this is highly illegal and should be an outrage. of course they claim they have arrested terrorists, but i’d be surprised if even a tenth of them were active hamas members (even a fifth).

i think these images were even published by the occupation army itself, claiming these were hamas "terrorists"

i think these images were even published by the occupation army itself, claiming these were hamas “terrorists”

10505386_10204498495124009_5903889311274996518_n

in the west bank, yesterday the army closed off the main entrance of deir istya village in an act of collective punishment, forcing villagers to take a detour.

occupation army blocked main road of deir istya village near nablus as another act of collective punishment

occupation army blocked main road of deir istya village near nablus as another act of collective punishment

in the nablus area, activists marched once again to huwwara checkpoint in protest over the ongoing massacres in gaza. the army fired tear gas and rubber coated steel bullets at the protestors. the protestors fired fireworks at them.

in nablus city, a solidarity protest took place.

in jerusalem, a mob once again attacked  a palestinian.

extraordinary and historical resistance happened in the west bank and in east jerusalem last nightin east jerusalem, protests and clashes took place in various places at night. damascus gate was filled with thousands of people who wanted to access al aqsa mosque to pray. in the old city, occupation forces tried to bar people from the compound and beat them with batons, including the elderly. youth then stormed the police blockades and shoved the occupation forces aside. thousands of palestinians, young and old, entered haram al shareef compound to pray while. youth actually chased away the oppupation forces and then controlled the gates to keep them out. young men also opened and ransacked the office of the occupation forces inside the compound. videos on facebook of the clashes here and here (of masses forcing their way into the compound) and here.

2

young men prepared to guard the haram al shareef compound after palestinians chased away the occupiers who had attempted to bar access to and attacked worshipers

Day_13_en

occupation police station on haram al shareef in compound in the old city of jerusalem after people chased occupiers away and raided it. the police presence on the compound is merely a means for control and oppression

 

what is said to have been the biggest demonstration in the west bank in at least a decade with 10,000 partipants took place yesterday in the ramallah area. masses of people gathered in ramallah and marched to qalandia, determined to enter jerusalem to reach al aqsa mosque. very violent clashes occured at qalandia checkpoint, with occupation forces shooting A LOT of life ammunition. this time, palestinians actually shot back, i’ve never seen that at a demonstration. at least two palestinians were killed, and many many injured. amira hass wrote that ambulances “have been moving back and forth, ferrying the injured from the Qalandia checkpoint and keeping close to the demonstrators, which include men and women of all ages. ” friends were in hospital with the injured until early morning. video on facebook also here and pictures here.

reportedly 10,000 marched from ramallah to qalandia on their way to jerusalem. heavy clashes, a lot of life ammunition, four palestinians killed. biggest protest in the west bank in a LONG time

reportedly 10,000 marched from ramallah to qalandia on their way to jerusalem. heavy clashes, a lot of life ammunition, four palestinians killed. biggest protest in the west bank in a LONG time

http://youtu.be/7RP0_66GTuI

palestinians are pissed off and they are on the streets. we should be too.
please also check my update with compilations of events between sunday night up to yesterday.

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massacre in khoza’a – a compilation of accounts

Posted on 25/07/2014 by esta

stories of more horror are coming out of khoza’a… terrible stories of massacre, of people trapped in their homes amid shelling and attacks that continued for three days, people bleeding to death in front of the eyes of other people, of families being taken as human shields. the typical horror stories of a zionist army ground invasion. but i am not sure what the situation in khoza’a is now. here is a short report published on wednesdsay based on an eyewitness account.

khoza’a is east of khan younis, with a population of almost 10,000, and only 500m from the “border”. since tuesday and for the next three days, apparently, a massacre took place in this village, that had no access to food, water, or medical aid. journalists and ambulances were not allowed in. several people have translated his tweets from arabic and posted them. at least 55 were confirmed dead in khoza’a, but my guess is the number is higher. until thursday, red cross ambulances stood as close to khoza’a as they could (eye witness ismail mahmoud says 2km away) and those injured had to run to them, risking their lives. at least four people were shot dead as snipers shot at anyone who moved. snipers were stationed on top of houses, putting everyone under house arrest. according to pchr, by wednesday at noon, israeli forces had invaded the village. there was confusion about a humanitarian ceasefire and people were trying to evacuate, but soldiers shot at them. here is pchr’s notes on khuza’a (khuza’a is not the only place were people were bombed, shot at, denied medical aid, trapped, etc., as the report shows, such war crimes happened in many villages in the khan younis area and all over gaza. please read the full report):

 

Israeli forces maintained their incursion into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, and there are reports that there are dozens of Palestinian casualties in the village, and medical crews were denied access to them.  When many civilians attempted to leave the village, Israeli forces fired at them, killing 4.

 

wednesday:

At approximately 12:30, Israel forces that had moved into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, fired bullets and artillery shells at hundreds of Palestinian civilians who attempted to leave the village as there were reports about a one-hour coordination to evacuate casualties.  Israeli forces fired also at ambulances and prevented them from entering the village

At approximately 17:00, 12 ambulances attempted to enter Khuza’a village, but Israeli forces prevented and fired at them.

At approximately 18:30, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a house belonging to Dr. Kamal Abu Rujaila, which he uses as clinic, in Khuza’a village, as a number of wounded Palestinians went to the house seeking medical aid.  A number of casualties were reported as a result of the attack.  Apparently, one Palestinian was killed.  Medical crews were not able to reach the house. A volunteer paramedic, who was wounded throughout the body while he was attempting to evacuate wounded Palestinians, has been trapped in the area since Wednesday morning, 23 July 2014, as medical crews have not been able to reach him.  According to reports from Khuza’a village, Israeli forces raided a number of houses and turned them into military sites.  They also arrested scores of Palestinians.  At approximately 23:00, an ICRC crew and 10 ambulances of Palestine Red Crescent Society went to Kuza’a village, but they were not able to evacuate victims because the situation was extremely dangerous.

At approximately 21:00, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, killing 2 of them: Mohammed Barham Abu Draz, 24; and ‘Essam Ibrahim Abu Ismail, 23.

Thursday

At approximately 07:15, Israeli forces fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who attempted to leave Khuza’a through a dirt road leading to ‘Abassan village.  One of these civilians, Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman al-Najjar, 56, was killed by a bullet to the neck.  Two civilians were also wounded.

Also at approximately 08:30, medical crews were able to recover the body of Fadi Yousef Ahmed al-Najjar, 27, who is physically disabled, from Khuza’a village.  He was killed by Israeli shelling

At approximately 09:50, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a motor cart on which a number of Palestinian civilians were traveling attempting to leave Khuza’a village.  As a result, 4 civilians were killed and another 2 ones were wounded.  The victims have not been identified as their bodies were burnt. 

on thursday, when red cross ambulances were finally allowed in, an aljazeera team went in as well and shot this video.

http://youtu.be/LP5m8P8IfN4

mahmoud ismail tweeted since monday. many translated his tweets into english and shared them. yesterday, i posted this compilation of translated his tweets.

journalist max blumenthal wrote this article with background information and a series of translations of mahmoud ismail’s tweets.

blumenthal also published translations of mahmoud ismai’s tweets by mohammad a. oun on storify (some of the tweets are the same as in the aforementioned article):

 

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