Gaza update 2

wednesday 16th of May 2007 4pm
The interfighting continued today, Hamas hit 3 rocket propelled grenades
(RPGs) against the presidential guard's headquarters opposite my building. 3
RPGs landed in front of the main entrance to my building, it was so loud and I was terrified, but
pretended to be strong in front of my daughter Sondos (I noticed that she
was not very well ),we had to stay again in one room away from the windows,
and I started to think of moving to a safer place in another part of the
town, but where is this safe place in Gaza? No place is safe in Gaza!

8 pm

To my great relief but disbelief and great mistrust, I heard that truce has
been announced between the 2 fighting parties

11 pm
I went to my bed struggling to sleep, emotionally distracted, unsettled
unhappy and traumatized, all sort of feelings, I could not sleep without
being interrupted by the sporadic shooting, which continued if not as
strongly and continuously as the last few days. I was however glad to see
that Sondos was fast asleep.

17th of May 2007 -10am

I have decided to go out to my work, and to drop my daughter off to her
friend's house on the other side of the town , where I thought it was
somewhat safer and where she could get a change of scenery.

2.20pm

The Israeli army intensifies its attacks against Gaza, another element to be
added to the already collapsing situation. Fighter jets hit a building
housing a Hamas office. This was very close to my daughter's friend's house.
I called Sondos and could hear her voice on the other line, terrified,
shouting, "all the windows here have been broken, my friend is slightly
injured, it is too loud it is too loud, mum please pick me up quickly mum".
Shattered, in disbelief and greatly worried, I hurried to pick her up, Gaza
streets are deserted, like a phantom town, especially where I live, the taxi
driver (I do not use my car in such circumstances)had to take many side
roads , and while the car was moving I could see many armed masked men, and
crossed many military barriers, on the arrival I could see the bombed
building, and hear the shattered glass being swept away by the residents of
the area, 2 were killed, 32 people were injured, some were women and
children .
Israel intensifies its attacks against Gaza, to add another element to the
deteriorating situation. 6 attacks against cars and buildings in the last 2
hours, and just now I got news that army tanks are bombarding the north of
Gaza. All over civilians are strained, drained and exhausted, streets are
dangerous, most shops are closed, schools and universities are closed , patients donot have safe accesability to medical facilities, the hospitals are overwhelmed with casualities , and called upon gaza residents several times for blood donation , it is not safe to reach hospitals.

this is Gaza and my life in Gaza , one episode after another , long chain of non stop tragic incidents,
with all my love