شهادة من خان يونس

Editor's Note: This testimony was collected by journalist Ahmad al-Batta in Gaza. 

We were jolted awake by the cacophony of explosions and terrified screams, with smoke permeating the air. An acrid smell incited panic and made it difficult to breathe. My parents and siblings, who had sought refuge at my house after escaping bombardment, found themselves in the midst of it again. An adjacent building was hit and collapsed onto my home, causing the windows to shatter — the air filled with smoke. As the airstrikes intensified in Khan Yunis’ city center, we hastily packed our belongings and fled. Kind strangers in the street offered us water. We spent a night on the street before seeking shelter at a relative’s house.

Resources are scarce — water, electricity, food, and medical supplies. We struggled to find Ventolin to alleviate our shortness of breath caused by inhaling dust and smoke.

My wife and I visited the hospital to treat our injuries from the shattered glass. The scene there was horrifying — decapitated children, scattered limbs, a woman screaming in agony. The hospital was overcrowded, and the medical staff was overwhelmed. Massacres are occurring in every district.

Having worked in the humanitarian sector, I can attest that this is a catastrophe. Despite being under siege for 17 years, the international community’s rhetoric about human rights, children’s rights, women’s rights seems hollow when it comes to Palestinians. Gaza is on the brink of annihilation, and it feels like no one is taking action.

This testimony was translated into English by Laura Albast. Graphic footage from one of the hospitals in Gaza (in a different location) can be viewed on Ahmed Hijazi's instagram account, trigger warning.