As fighting in Gaza escalates, the stories of those few who have sought refuge from the Israeli forces have been heard from this Gazan city.
Some of the respondents said they were told by the Israelis to leave Gaza City, populated by more than 300000 people. Survivors also had it worse as they testified how people died from forced attempts to escape as they were shot dead.
Although Israeli forces pulled out from the Shujayea district of Gaza City, they caused a lot of devastation during their pullout. The civilians living in the neighboring Tal al-Hawa have claimed that the streets ‘are filled with bodies’ as the attack was unceasing.
Diplomatic negotiations in Qatar continue. However, the attempts to stop the nine-month-long war have been threatened by the escalating Israeli operations.
According to the council, as of December 9, 2012, Gaza had been engaged in the conflict since October 7, when the count reached 38, 345 persons killed and 88, 295 persons wounded. The loss of life in the Israeli sector is reported to equal 1,139, though dozens of soldiers are feared to be alive and in the custody of Gaza.
It is still grim as it is the civilians of Gaza who suffer the most following the continued onslaught of the military force. Non-governmental organizations and other pro-active bodies are still urging governments to find other means of combating the crisis with no success in achieving a long-term cease fire.
