Gaza City, Gaza – Another sleepless night, another heavy morning weighed down by the horrible consequences of the Israeli attacks.
Israeli forces have bombarded the besieged Gaza Strip from the air, land and sea since October 7, killing thousands and causing widespread destruction.
According to the government media office in Gaza, more than 18,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on the blockaded territory since the Israeli assault began.
Over the past three weeks, “each kilometer inside the Gaza Strip has received approximately 50 tons of explosives,” the media office said.
More than 8,500 Palestinians were killed, including more than 3,500 children, according to Palestinian authorities. Another 1,870 people are missing under the rubble, including 1,020 children.
Israeli bombings have razed entire neighborhoods and targeted densely populated refugee camps.
In the Shati (Beach) refugee camp, west of Gaza City, Ahmad Ghaben was at a bombed site where houses once stood.
“The whole area is gone,” he said. “Young and old people were killed. The family of Abu Mohammed al-Jabari, the family of Abu Mohammed Abdelsamad… are all gone. The Hassouneh family had sick elderly people. Three missiles fell on us. Do they (Israel) think we are an army? We are all civilians here.
In supermarkets, empty shelves became commonplace after Israel imposed a total siege on the territory, severely restricting the supply of water, food, fuel and electricity, and limiting access to network connectivity.
However, the streets of Gaza City, despite the rubble of destroyed buildings, are not deserted. Residents continue to shop, seeking basic necessities like drinking water and bread, and joining long queues outside bakeries.
Others looked for gas canisters to cook with, and some residents set up their wares on the side of the street to sell.
The message is clear: the people of Gaza are aware that life goes on and are determined to live it.