Nothing is entering the Gaza Strip, which has been under total siege by the Israeli army since October 9. The shelling of the Palestinian enclave continues, in retaliation for the bloody attack launched on October 7 by Hamas. A terrible humanitarian situation for Palestinian civilians, who are trying as best they can to survive.
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Blocked in Gaza, Ziad Medoukh still has a roof over his head. The man spends his days confined with his family in his small apartment, and only goes out to find a little bit of food.
“ Daily life is very difficult because supermarkets are closedsays the Palestinian, professor of French in the enclave’s universities. We have small stores in the neighborhoods, but there aren’t many food products. Within two to three days, the situation will be catastrophic for all the inhabitants of Gaza. »
Some are a little more optimistic. “ We have provisions for several days to hold the siegetestifies another Gazans, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of Israeli reprisals. But I think there is still food for a few months in Gaza. I think we were prudent enough to stock sufficient quantities. »
Also listenTotal blockade of the Gaza Strip: “The question of the survival of the population arises”
“ A feeling of fear »
On the phone, this anonymous Gazan describes a catastrophic situation and fears a ground invasion by the IDF army: “ We really fear the worst. I’ve seen 16 deadly episodes of this genre, and this one promises to be much more deadly and lasting. We see no prospect of a truce. There is a rage on the Israeli side which is perfectly understandable. I was revulsed by these images, but that was to be expected, because Gaza had become a pressure cooker that was bound to explode eventually. » If a humanitarian corridor opens, there is no doubt: he will leave the Gaza Strip with his loved ones.
A fear of the Israeli military operation shared by Ziad Medoukh. “ There is a feeling of fear, of panic, that this situation will degenerate, explains the one who will not evacuate under any pretext. They are next to the ruins of their homes, but I think the Palestinians are very determined to stay, not to leave. »
To leave or to stay, a question that does not arise at the moment. With the total siege imposed by Israel, Gaza is cut off from the world.
Read alsoArab League condemns Israeli siege of Gaza, calls for ‘immediate’ aid
Rimal, a district of Gaza emblematic of the intensity of the bombings
In Gaza, Rimal, located north of downtown Gaza, was considered a chic neighborhood… both an administrative, commercial center and residential area: the heart of activity in this territory. The neighborhood was made up of office towers and multi-story buildings in which the upper middle class of this Palestinian enclave lived…
Rimal was also a neighborhood relatively far from the areas bordering Israeli territory. It was therefore also a place considered less risky by the inhabitants of Gaza who, some of them, living in more exposed areas, had come to take shelter there.
But the neighborhood was the target of bombing from the start of the Israeli operation. On Saturday, the Palestine Tower, a 14-story building, was the target of one of the strikes. But the shelling became truly massive during the night from Monday to Tuesday. Hundreds of raids in the space of a few hours.
Since then, images from Gaza show a field of ruins. Buildings completely collapsed, others gutted, the remaining facades threatening to collapse. Entire blocks of buildings were destroyed.
As in an earthquake zone, rescuers search the rubble looking for victims while survivors try to gather some belongings. In its previous operations against the Gaza Strip, Israel targeted specific buildings. This time, an entire neighborhood was destroyed.
