9 November

A Palestinian woman carrying the body of her child injured by the Israeli occupation forces

A targeted car by the Israeli helicopters

Blood and human flesh is everywhere, we are getting killed

Palesinian children are looking at blood pool of their friends killed by the Isareli tank shells

Palestinian workers trying to help Palestinian man

Palestinian young men gathering around a car that was bombed by Israeli helicopters

We, Palestinians, whether Christian, Moslem or otherwise, are being killed every single day in Palestine . Our houses are being demolished, our roads being destroyed, our children being slaughtered, our lives being taken away by the Israeli helicopters, bulldozers, tank shells, and airplane rockets. Our lives are violently, yet quietly being taken away by the Israeli Occupation Forces. The murder here is loud and graphically violent, yet scarcely a whisper of these atrocities is heard through the news organizations of the West.

The situation here is completely insane. Day after day, Israelis come to our homeland and kill, kill, kill as if Gaza was a shooting gallery in a carnival. All over Gaza are leftovers of the Israeli frenzy to shoot at anything that moves. Legs and arms of innocent Palestinian children laying on streets and remaining rubble from what was once someone’s house. What was once tiny soft pliable fingers from a baby can be found hardened like rocks on Palestinian soil. One can find a piece of a head with the brains oozing out like a melon.

Our children’s blood runs through the streets of Palestine and no one cares, certainly not Israeli and Jews in America or Britain . Why do these children have to die? New born babes in Beit Hanoune were welcomed into this world by Israeli artillery fire. Israeli tanks blew up their homes while they were asleep.

Where is the American and British Press? Where is the outcry from the lands of Democracy? How many Palestinian children must be murdered, yes, murdered before someone in the West says “Enough!” What level of butchery must the Israelis rise to before the world can’t stomach the carnage anymore? Let the 13 family members hear it, even if they have to hear it in hospital refrigerators.

The blood is everywhere. In few minutes more than 21 people were killed this early morning while the children were sleeping -- 60 people were injured.

The brother of two people who were injured was heard screaming in a hospital, “Why, why, Israel is killing us, why my brother?"

The IDF attacked Hai Al Salam area in Rafah with a very large number of tanks and bulldozers.

They demolished many houses and shot many people.

In addition they arrested four people with their father in the same area.

The Apaches are circling the Rafah sky all the time, shelling homes. This operation will be the same as they did in Yebna camps.

The number of demolished homes is 40.

Also, thousands of people have gathered in a very large demonstration under the Israeli Apache in solidarity with the families whose homes have been demolished in Rafah.

They are asking the relief foundations to help the homeless families...

But no response from any one.

It was the worst 72 hours in our lives.

They withdraw a few meters from Yebna camp, and the people went to see their homes there. The people went to their homes thinking that they still have some. Many families arrived at their homess and found rubble mixed with their damaged furniture.

The result of the attack was 150 houses were completely demolished. Another 70 homess were partially demolished.

Thousands of trees were demolished.

Eight people killed, and another ninety-six were injured.

Most of the injured people are children and eighteen are women — four of whom are pregnant.

Over 420 families can’t live in their homes because of the attack that isn't yet over, according IDF's announcements to the media.

This morning they demolished two houses in Tal Zourb area.

I met one of the homeless families and asked the woman about that. She was in tears and said:

"I've been living here for 40 years and I never came across a day like this in those forty years. They demolished our houses with our furniture. May God damage all the ones who share in demolishing houses."

Now the families are living in tents under this very changing cold weather, waiting for relief organizations to bring them food and water.

And the question is:

Who will help these damaged homeless families and bring them water, food, and clothes — especially in a time that they have lost all things in their homes?

What is the reason that the Israelis have demolished this large number of houses in 72 hours?

These are some of the questions that many journalists are asking relief organizations.

The IDF blocked the UNRWA clinic which is located in the Yebna camp. This clinic assists and serves people in these hard times.

They demolished clothes shops located near the clinic, in addition to burning a supermarket. The area is completely closed by the bulldozers and tanks.

Right now they just killed 19 year old Zaki Al Sharif. He was killed while standing near his home in Block J area west Rafah.

Four other people were injured at the same time.

The shelling has been going on and on for three days now.

Dr. Ali Mousa, the director of Abu Yousef Al Najar hospital, said:

"The IDF used massive shells and cannons to cause a large number of injuries and most of the injured people were injured in the head and in sensitive parts of their bodies.

"If that attack is going to continue in this manner, there will be a medical crisis in all the area."

A call from the families in Palestinian Rafah —

A new massacre continues!

The F16s and Apaches are shelling innocent people. Shelling from everywhere. Every place. Every area. They shoot at large numbers of people.

They exploded two houses — the first one belonged to Mohsen Shat, and the other is not known.

In addition they demolished over fifty houses.

It's A REAL call from the families!

I heard one of the women, Um Ahmed saying:

"God we need water. Water, water! My children are going to die between my hands! Water! We need water!

Where are human rights. Where is the UN? and Mr. Anan?

We are being killed using your weapons, it's your weapons — we are all being killed all the time."

Um Ahmed was one of the thousands of people who have not had a drink of water since the morning.

We don’t have food. We can't go to hospitals. We don’t have electricity. We have injured people and cannot transfer them to their homes or hospitals.

The Israeli army announced through megaphones that people must leave the area.

They demolished many thousands of trees.

This is the third day with continuouss electricity blackout which just came back on right now so I am able now to write this.

Most areas have no electricity or water.

This is a real call by the many thousands of people here!

We are all asking for water and bread.

Many journalists have arrived in the area but couldn’t take pictures because the Israelis shot at them many times.

The Journalist Association asked all journalists in all the world to get out and publish about the crimes which the Israelis are committing against civilians.

I didn't take pictures although there are many things here because my camera is still broken since that time when the soldiers surrounded me and other journalists.

3 a.m. — October 9

I am writing this in a rush because I am afraid that the electricity will be off due to the shelling.

Right now, I am looking out of my window and writing. This is a description from my window —

The sky is full of smoke and I can not see anything except a large number of tanks and bulldozers with more F16s and Apaches.. All of these weapons right now..

The sky is covered with airplanes.

Difficult to know where the shooting is coming from.. All of them from every angle they are shooting at people leaving their houses.

Ambulances just came three minutes ago.

Children and women left their homes in their nightgowns and pajamas.

The sound of the tanks and bulldozers is very loud.

Everyone is asking themselves: "what is happening?" And all answer that what is happening is shelling and bulldozers from every direction.

Large groups of families leaving — to where?!!

We will not die in our homes.

No one is asking for help, because no one is answering us. We are all by ourselves.

The shelling is going on and on right now.

It is enough to write this for now, but I will write more if they don’t shell the electricity (power station).

This is the second attack in 48 hours. During the first attack they demolished about eleven houses and killed six people, two of whom were children.

.............

A new massacre against Rafah yesterday and up till these moments.

Over 70 people were injured and another seven were killed in the attack against Rafah by the latest models of F16s, Apaches, tanks and bulldozers.

Since yesterday they have demolished many people's homes. The ambulance men were trying to get out the people who have been under the rubble and other injured people from this early morning's attack.

It was difficult for families to identify their sons.

A 14 year old child had been shot in his head and a part of his head was missing. The ambulance had to transfer him without the head because the Israeli soldiers were shooting at the ambulance men.

Most of the injured were children and women as they were trying to get out of their houses searching for shelter.

Yebna camp has a curfew and if people attempt to go out of their houses, they get shot by soldiers. If they stayed at home they will be demolished with the houses.

Now, many ambulances are trying to get the victims but the soldiers are shooting at ambulances and journalists.

Rafah currently has no food, goods, and other basic needs because the IDF divided Gaza Strip into five separated areas by military checkpoints.

Now it's hard to find milk and pharmacies for babies and children.

The attack is going on and on, and the streets are empty.

Many parents have been searching for their sons and can't find them.

.............

Later in the day, Israeli sources told press people that the attack on Rafah will be for weeks.

I broke my camera when I fell down as I was running, and am now limping.

4:20 p.m. — September 18

Now it's 4:20 in the evening, Tuesday.

Two white Israeli trucks brought new tanks and bulldozers from Khan Younis City.

The shelling just began five minutes ago. It was directed towards cars and citizens who were walking in the streets in Tal Al Sultan area in Rafah City, south of Gaza Strip.

12:00 a.m. — September 19

Sixteen tanks and 6 bulldozers just arrived right now, at 12 midnight in Block J in Rafah.

The people as usual were sleeping despite of shelling, shooting, lack of water and other environmental problems.

Now two Israeli Apaches just came into the Rafah sky with the other watching plane which can't be seen, as this one didn’t leave the Rafah sky every night for the past 3 years.

Now I see the sky full of shelling. It has become red.

People are rushing, children are crying, and women are rushing out quickly from their houses wearing their sleeping clothes.

Ambulances are coming, and I see the faces of people terrorized, yet also relieved that help is coming now.

I don’t understand why people are leaving their homes.

When I asked one of the people what was happening, he was running away quickly as he said to me one word: "Incursion." This word means that the IDF will attack the houses and demolish them.

I am trying to go to see other families.

Now, I see a child about 6 years or so, just crying and shouting saying, "Mother! Mother!"

His mother wasn’t with him, but she was running in front of him about 10 meters. She said, "Ala'a, come on! Come on! Come on! I'm here, come on!" She was running and running and leaving her child who still saying "Mother! Mother! Mother!"

The shelling began and the people were all running more and more. Even the ambulance men were leaving the area because of the shelling.

12:50 a.m.

Now it's about 12:50 a.m., and a very large explosion just occurred.

Now I can't write anything because the electricity was just cut out when they bombed the house situated about 250 meters from the border line which divides Rafah and Egypt.

I can't see anything now.

No light. Just the light of the bulldozers and the light of the bullets in the sky.

It was a very tough moment because everyone was leaving the area, including the relief agencies and the journalists.

2:20 a.m.

At 2:30 we heard shelling and shooting in another area called Hai Al Salam neighborhood, and also in Al Brazil refugee Camp. Rachel Corrie's parents are in this area visiting the families whom Rachel had visted before the Israelis killed her.

There were also another 16 tanks and 3 bulldozers in Block J area.

I can't write or describe and take pictures without electricity, so I intend to come back and see the result of the Israeli attack in Block J when the light comes back on.

Now I moved to Hai Al Salm and Al Brazil refugee camps which is also under attack.

I found a group of soldiers attacking houses and shooting furniture, in addition to searching the houses.

All the people in Rafah area are not sleeping now, because it's hard to sleep with shelling, shooting and bombing.

Now a very loud explosion occured. It was a rocket that they shot into one of the buildings in the Camp.

4:00 a.m.

The shelling and shooting are continuing till this moment which is 4:00 o'clock in the morning.

The IDF Apaches just withdrew but the watching one is still in the sky.

The shelling from the tanks are going on and on, and people who are living in other houses are just sitting in the streets because it is hard for them to sleep while Israeli bulldozers are demolishing houses.

4:40 a.m.

Now, it's 4:40 in the morning.

Israeli bulldozers and tanks are withdrawing.

.....

I intend to go and see what they did, but it's hard because I know that they put explosives after they left the area so it will kill the people who came after them and saw what they did.

I went to Block J...

Now, I'm going to Block J again. This area has no electricity, but I can interview people and take pictures from the area.



I found the Israeli bulldozers still demolishing trees and working inside the iron wall which is the border that they have been creating for the past two years.



6:20 a.m.

Now it's about 6:20.

The Israeli bulldozers and tanks just left now, and also the watching plane just left with them...but when I moved a few meters to the area where they had been, I noticed there was one tank which had no sound and no movement.

The tank noticed the families coming back to see their houses and what had happened to them. The tank shot about 4 or 5 bullets and in less than one minute all the people left again.

When I heard the sound of the tank leave, I went again and saw the people returning once more. There were about five people who were before me in the areas, two of whom were women.

I saw a woman shouting and saying "My house!" and she fell down on the ground.

I went quickly to her and found her on the ground weeping because she didn’t find her house. It was rubble.

Ambulances, journalists, photographers and everyone else just came to Block J area.

I just began to write again.

The ambulance driver found an injured man, a 24 year old taxi driver called Ramzi Al Raie. He had injuries in his head, belly, and in different parts of his body.

Another was also injured called Abu Yousif Al Najar. Doctors described his injuries as very serious.

Also there were two houses demolished in this area, and another which was a factory that made cement for buildings. The factory belonged to Al Hlkawi family from Rafah, Block J.

The houses that were demolished belonged to Majdi Shaut and Samer Abu Naja from West Rafah.

7:30 a.m. onward

Now it's 7:30 and I see an 11 year old child called Ahmed wearing a black blouse and red shorts. He wasn't wearing any shoes. He was busy trying to get something from the rubble.

When I asked him what he was doing he answered: "I want to get out my bicycle from the rubble."

I asked him if he went to school, he said: "Yes".

I said to him "Now it's 8:45 and you didn’t go to school yet, so why is that?"

He said "Because I lost my school bag and clothes in the rubble when the Israelis demolished our house."

During this time the UNRWA officers just came to record the families whose homes had been demolished in order to deliver them tents and food.

Also now I see many journalists who were reporting and interviewing people.

I'm asking the woman whose house had been demolished, why they demolished her house, and what were her feelings.

She answered me in tears saying: "We had been living in this house for more than 20 years now, and now, in a few hours we lost it all. All our dreams have gone by this bulldozer! They demolished our houses because they are building a new border here. They demolished more than 24 houses in the last four days, and two of them belonged to our relatives.

"They demolished them while we were living in them and they are saying because of tunnels, but we don’t have tunnels. We are a family who is far away from tunnels, about 250 meters from the border line and they built the border line, so why did they demolish our house? Is that because we have no human rights like other countries?

"Where are 'human rights'? You are all saying 'human rights' and journalists talking about it and repeating it every day, so is demolishing our house one of the 'human rights' that you all speaking about?"

I promised to deliver her message out of Palestine.

The children are trying to get some things from the rubble but they can't because everything has been demolished and turned to rubble.

Now there are a few members from the International Solidarity Movement. They can not do any thing to protect people because they also get targeted since the Israelis killed the American girl, Rachel Corrie, and the British man Thomas Hurndall, and the British cameraman James Miller.

Now, many hundreds of people are living in small rooms and on streets and in tents. This is because of the large number that has been increasing every day, as many hundreds of people search for flats to rent instead of their houses that had been demolished, but they couldn't find any apartments because they are all full.

It is 11:20 pm. I just arrived right now to Rafah coming from Gaza.

I had found the Abu Holi checkpoint closed. Hundreds of cars were waiting and the soldiers did not allow them to enter to their cities and homes.

It is hard, really hard, to move around.

Many people were sitting in every place where there is some shade: tree, walls, and car shades.

I went to the first cars, and taxis, to see why the IDF soldiers were blocking the roads. I held my pen and began writing and describing what was happening. The following is what I wrote:

I see five Israelis jeeps full of soldiers, and two trucks (red and blue), two bulldozers and many soldiers in the land. The soldiers were working and building new checkpoints. They are creating cement blocks.

It is really very hot here and I feel the sun really burning me.

Students are carrying their books and they have them on their heads to protect themselves from the hot sunshine. Many people are sitting near me on this cement block near the bulldozers.

I am trying to find a shade so I can sit and write and describe what I see, but I can't find any because people are everywhere. Most of them are silent, just waiting to cross this checkpoint.

The soldiers are still working now. Two jeeps just came and asked the people to go away. The soldiers began shooting 4 or 5 bullets in the air, but the people are still sitting and no one moved.

The soldiers got out of their jeeps and shot a teargas. I cannot write any more. It's too bad, and I have to leave this area because it will harm my eyes.

I moved a few meters, then the soldier shot another 5 teargases. It hurt my my eyes again, and I have been unable to write or open my eyes for the past five minutes.

Now I opened my eyes and I saw people still putting their hands on their eyes and rubbing them. It is as though they were crying.

This one women made me sad. She cannot walk because she is an old women, so she fell down from the teargas.

The soldiers got back to their work with the trucks and bulldozers.

Now I looked to my right and I saw some farm land that was recently occupied. I turned to the left. There was a group of cars for settlers and Israelis, walking in a very fast way.

I was listening to the man sitting next to me asking for water. I'm very thirsty too and didn’t drink since the morning. It is now 2 o'clock. Everyone is asking for water.

Now a women with her baby child were sitting in one of the shaded areas and she is asking for water for her child who was just waking up from sleep. She is asking everyone for water but she didn’t get it.

People are trying to get water or buy it, but no one is selling their water.

I hear the old man sitting next to me saying to one of the people: "is there any other occupation in the world that deals with people this way?" The other man answered: "yes, we hear about that. It's here in Palestine, where there is an international war against Palestine." One of the other people interrupted and said: "Where are the kind people to see us here at this checkpoint that humiliates us in this manner?"

He did not complete his sentence because they began shooting other teargas, and again, all people began running.



This time the teargas broke the window of an orange Hyundai car and people ran out of it. Gas entered in another white truck and the driver ran out.

The first cars are two ambulances which have two people who need to be in the European and Nasser hospitals.

Now Branine, a journalist for Associated Press News, got many pictures of the bulldozers and tanks. The soldiers shot the teargas and he was the first one to leave the checkpoint because of the teargas.

One of the people just saw me writing and introduced himself. He was from Human Rights Center, and he interviews people. He asked one of the people about the checkpoint, and the man asked him who he was. When he told him he was from the Human Rights Center, the man asked: "are there human rights these days in Palestine?"

Now I see an 11 or 12 year old child wearing a black jeans.

The child was getting closer and closer to the checkpoint and everyone was shouting at him to come back but he didn’t answer.

The soldiers shot a bottle of teargas, and the child carried it and threw it again at the soldiers. I think it was hot in his hand.

The soldiers are hurrying and they got into their jeeps after their eyes got burnt from the teargas that the child threw at them.



A woman began shouting to the child and saying "Mustafa! Mustafa!" She is his mother. He came back to his mother.

Now, it is 8 o'clock.

I can't write and describe any more because of the dark.

I see thousands of lights where settlers and Israelis are working, while on the other side where Palestinians are sitting, we can't turn on lights because it is forbidden.

I hear people complaining to each other and trying to call their families to tell them that they will not come home tonight and that they will sleep at the checkpoint.

At 11 pm, the bulldozers just came and opened one of the cement blocks and they permitted the first cars to enter.

Some people finally passed the checkpoint, but others will spend the night here.