After enduring over a week trapped in a Gaza City building besieged by Israeli troops, a group of Palestinian women recounted their harrowing escape. Fleeing south with their children, they left behind family members, some walking barefoot for more than 12 miles along the coastline to safety.
At Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, the four women, accompanied by their 16 children aged 9 months to 12 years, shared their ordeal. Originating from Abu Eskandar, a neighborhood in northern Gaza, they had sought refuge in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal district, holing up in an apartment building amid the chaos.
According to the women, Israeli forces abducted their husbands, sons, older relatives, and a female doctor from their shelter. They accused the military of blowing up their building and others nearby. A video circulating on social media showed the wreckage of the apartment building where they had sought refuge, corroborating their claims.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned Israeli forces’ demolition of residential and civilian structures across Gaza, including in Gaza City. However, verifying events in Al-Rimal is challenging due to ongoing fighting.
The upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood, once vibrant, now lies in ruins due to Israel’s bombing campaign in response to Hamas attacks. The airstrikes decimated the business district and forced tens of thousands to flee.
Israa Hassan Ahmed al-Ashkar, one of the women, described a week-long ordeal of terror and deprivation in the besieged apartment building. The group endured hunger, thirst, and constant fear as Israeli forces surrounded and eventually stormed their refuge.
When the Israeli troops finally ordered them to leave, they faced intense bombing, compelling them to flee. Al-Ashkar recounted the heart-wrenching decision to abandon her elderly stepmother on the beach, fearing for her safety amidst roaming dogs.
With children in tow, the group embarked on a grueling journey along the coast to seek safety, facing Israeli gunfire and braving harsh conditions. Hoda Harb, another member of the group, described their desperate plea for assistance from Israeli soldiers, who callously denied them aid.
The women’s accounts paint a picture of terror and desperation amidst the conflict’s chaos. They allege mistreatment, arbitrary detention of men, and deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure by Israeli forces.
Their journey underscores the toll of the conflict on civilians, particularly women and children, caught in the crossfire. As the violence escalates, the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens, with families facing unimaginable hardships in their quest for survival.
Despite the challenges they face, these resilient women press on, seeking safety and security for their families amid the devastation of war. Their voices serve as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution.