Hafez, Palestinian displaced in Gaza, denounces “ruthless” war

Displaced eight times in eight months, this Palestinian testifies to Franceinfo about the hellish daily life endured by civilians in Gaza.

“Israel must take every precaution to protect civilians”. These were the words of the White House after the Israeli army strike and the fire in Rafah that made 45 dead and 249 injured, according to a report from the Hamas Ministry of Health, among Palestinians displaced in southern Gaza, Sunday May 26. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks of a “tragic mistake”.

“It is clear that there is no intention, no desire for civilians to be targeted“, also affirmed the spokesperson for the Israeli army Olivier Rafowicz on Tuesday May 28 on franceinfo. This is a “targeted strike against two Hamas terrorists” with “precise missiles“, repeated the reserve colonel. “In no case was the camp with tents with people targeted by the IDF“, explained Olivier Rafowicz, specifying that “the area is not a humanitarian zone“The Israeli army said it was investigating the deaths of civilian victims. For its part, the UN requested investigations.”complete and transparent” on this bombing of Rafah.

However, far away, several hundred kilometers away, the fighting also continues. As after the death of the seven humanitarian workers from World Central Kitchen – this food distribution which had turned into carnage – or as after the discovery of mass graves around the Nasser hospital, emotion quickly subsided and the fighting continued. But not only in Rafah. In the North too, near the city of Gaza, the war is still uncompromising between the Israeli army and Hamas militants. And civilians are on the front lines.

franceinfo collected the testimony of Hafez who is still in Gaza. It has been moved eight times in less than eight months. Like a caged bird, Hafez flees the fighting, and desperately tries to protect his family.

He thought he was safe in Jabalia, to the north of the enclave, but fighting resumed shortly before the start of the ground offensive in Rafah in early May. “Israeli occupying forces are once again deployed in northern Gaza, firing shells randomly. Our homes, all of us, are under their bombs.”testifies Hafez.

“It’s a ruthless war. We live in inhumane conditions”

Hafez, a Palestinian in Gaza

at franceinfo

“My children have never known peace. For 17 years we have suffered an unjust blockade”recalls Hafez. “The Israelis are waging war without worrying about the lives of children, without worrying about civilians”he says.

The other danger according to him is the lack of food. Despite orders from the International Court of Justice, the temporary American port and the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing point, humanitarian aid is not reaching the North in large enough quantities. And according to Hafez, famine threatens.

Since October 7 and the Hamas attack on kibbutzim in Israel, retaliation by Israel, which says it wants to destroy Hamas, has left at least 36,050 dead in the Gaza Strip, mainly civilians, according to the Ministry of Defense. Health of the Hamas administration in the Palestinian territory.