‘The world does not care if we all die': hunger and despair in the ruins of Gaza City
default
On the streets of Gaza City this week, there were two sounds that never ceased, day or night. In the west, the Mediterranean breakers crashed on the rubbish-strewn shoreline. In the east, the shells, missiles and rockets exploded with dull thuds and occasional ear-splitting cracks.
At least 100,000 people have come to Gaza City, once the bustling commercial and cultural hub of the Palestinian territory. All are fleeing the new offensive – dubbed Gideon's Chariots – recently launched by Israel into the ruined towns and neighbourhoods of northern Gaza.
The blasts that the newly displaced can hear, as they crowd into makeshift shelters and hastily constructed encampments, or simply set up their tents or tarpaulins on the pock-marked pavements, sometimes come during direct clashes between Israeli troops and Hamas, though the militant Islamist organisation remains elusive, often underground.
Much more often, they are the sounds of airstrikes and artillery bombardment which have killed about 750 people and injured 2,000 more across Gaza in the last week, mostly women and children, according to medical officials there.
On Wednesday, Mohammed Abu Nadi moved his family from Jabaliya, a neighbourhood east of Gaza City that has been reduced to ruins in multiple Israeli offensives and raids.
'What happened this week was another escalation … There were relentless bombings everywhere,' the 33-year-old said. 'My friend was on his way to get a vehicle to move his family to Gaza City, but when he returned, he found his home reduced to rubble. His wife and children were all killed.
'They were just young children, innocent civilians with no involvement in anything. I was shocked when it happened. I quickly carried my wife and family and left the area heading towards Gaza City.'
Abu Adam Abdul Rabbo, 55, said more than 80 members of his extended family had been killed during the 19-month conflict, which was triggered by a Hamas attack into Israel in which militants killed 1,200, mostly civilians, and abducted 251, of whom 57 remain in Gaza. The ensuing Israeli offensive has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, also mostly civilians, and reduced much of the territory to rubble; smashing roads, health facilities, schools, religious sites, sanitation systems and much else. Israeli officials say they only attack military targets and accuse Hamas of using civilians as human shields, a charge it denies.
A week ago, Rabbo said he was woken by the sound of a huge blast that had targeted his brother's house, killing five.
'We struggled to transfer their bodies to hospital as a quadcopter drone was firing bullets everywhere. We managed to bury them in the Jabaliya town cemetery. After that, we decided to leave, fearing for the lives of our remaining children.
'We were able to carry only a few basic items – some clothes and food. My wife was crying bitterly, asking: 'How will we survive? What can we take with us? How long will we remain displaced?,'' Rabbo said.
This month, food security experts backed by the United Nations said the territory was at critical risk of famine, with cases of malnutrition rising rapidly.
UN warehouses in the territory are empty and most of the free bakeries that many relied on for their daily bread shut down weeks ago – though aid agencies have been able to keep some community kitchens running to produce about 300,000 meals a day. The limited food available to buy is too expensive for almost everybody, with 1kg of tomatoes or onions costing the equivalent of $13.
'Every corner of every street is crowded with people,' said Amjad Shawa, the director of the Gaza NGOs Network who is based in Gaza City. 'They are living in rubbish dumps, cesspits. There are flies, mosquitoes. We have no water to deliver, no food, no tents or blankets or tarpaulins, nothing. People are very, very hungry but there is nothing to give them.'
UN officials said on Friday that their clinics and pharmacies were no longer able to offer 40% of the treatments categorised as essential by the World Health Organization. Medics interviewed last week reported seeing many abscesses and skin diseases among patients, as well as acute cases of diarrhoea and respiratory illnesses – in addition to the many injuries from airstrikes.
'We see some children with malnutrition, but everyone complains of being hungry,' said Dr Iain Lennon, a British emergency medicine consultant in Mawasi, southern Gaza. 'We often see patients who are tired or dizzy because they just have not eaten enough.'
In recent days, Israel has eased the tight blockade into Gaza imposed in early March, when the first phase of a fragile ceasefire expired. On Friday, 100 trucks entered the territory, but very little aid had been distributed.
Humanitarian officials said a key problem was security. Law and order improved in the territory during the ceasefire from mid-January to March when Hamas-run police were on the streets, but it has collapsed since. Of a convoy of 20 trucks each carrying 20 tonnes of wheat flour for the World Food Programme, only three arrived at their destination on Thursday night after two broke down and 15 were hijacked by looters and driven away.
'You don't see lines of children with rib cages and spines showing like in Africa,' said one UN official, 'but there you have no roads and a population scattered over an area the size of Europe. Here, there is 130,000 tonnes of aid just the other side of the entry points into Gaza, a few kilometres away.'
Few have confidence that a US-backed Israeli scheme to bring in aid due to start next week will improve the situation. The plan involves a small number of distribution hubs in southern of Gaza being run by private contractors and protected by Israeli troops who will vet recipients. UN aid workers describe the scheme as dangerous, impractical and possibly unlawful.
To get aid, Palestinians will have to travel up to 25 miles (40km) across rubble-strewn roads during an active conflict, despite an almost total lack of available transport, to retrieve a monthly 20kg food parcel.
'It would be very difficult to go there, and there is no guarantee that you can come back,' Shawa said. 'This is an engineered strategy to displace people and start clearing the north of Gaza.'
Israel said the plan was necessary to prevent Hamas seizing and selling aid to fund its operations. Aid officials in Gaza said on Friday there was no evidence of any widespread diversion of aid at any stage of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the vulnerable suffer the most. Six weeks ago the eldest son of Ihab al-Attar, from Beit Lahia, tried to return to the family home to retrieve food and clothes, but he was targeted by a missile and badly injured. There was no warning and no evacuation orders from the Israeli military, Attar, 41, said.
A series of operations saved 21-year-old Mahmoud's life but left him without much of his intestines and an infected wound. When the new Israeli offensive began 10 days ago, the family were forced to more from their battered but habitable home to a tent on a street in Gaza City. With almost all hospitals in northern Gaza no longer functioning and the remaining few overwhelmed, the family were trying to care for Mahmoud themselves.
Related: As Gaza's children are bombed and starved, we watch - powerless. What is it doing to us as a society? | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
'Now Mahmoud's condition worsens day by day,' Attar said. 'The hardest part is watching my son dying before my eyes and being unable to do anything for him. I fear I will lose my son.'
Also in great danger is Yazan, Nadi's eight-year-old quadraplegic son who, his father said, needed a special diet and care.
'He has become extremely thin and is suffering from severe malnutrition. I took him to the hospital several times, but the doctors told me they can't do anything for him.'
Few hold out much hope for any relief soon. Negotiations for a new ceasefire have stalled, and aid is likely to take days, even weeks to arrive, in northern Gaza, if at all.
Umm Ammar Jundiyea, 65, who is in Gaza City after fleeing the eastern neighbourhood of Shujaiya, described a 'bleak' future.
'The world does not care about what is happening in Gaza, even if we all die,' the mother of eight said. 'This world is deceitful and hypocritical. It claims to be civilised and humane, but it only sees with one eye.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
4 hours ago
Mahmoud Khalil speaks to ABC News in 1st broadcast interview after ICE release
Watch more of Linsey Davis' broadcast interview with Mahmoud Khalil on "Good Morning America" Monday at 7 a.m. ET and ABC News Live Prime at 7 p.m. ET. Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University pro-Palestinian activist who was detained by ICE for more than three months, spoke with ABC News Live Prime anchor Linsey Davis in the first on-camera interview since his release. In the interview, which is set to air on Monday at 7 p.m. ET, Khalil pushed back against the Trump administration's claim that he is a threat to U.S. national security. "The White House has said that you distributed pro-Hamas fliers. Secretary Rubio said that you created an environment of harassment toward Jewish students. President Trump said we got to get him the hell out of our country. Why do you think that you are perceived as such a threat?" Davis asked Khalil in the exclusive interview. "Because I represent a movement that goes against what this administration is trying to do," Khalil responded. "They try to portray me as a violent person. They try to portray me as a terrorist, as some lunatic, but not presenting any evidence, not presenting any shred of credibility to their claims." Khalil was released Friday evening from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Jena, Louisiana, after U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz issued an order granting his release on bail. The judge said the government made no attempt to prove that Khalil's release would irreparably harm them in some way and that Khalil represented a flight risk. "What all that evidence adds up to is a lack of violence, a lack of property destruction, a lack of anything that might be characterized as incitement to violence," Farbiarz said of Khalil. The judge said that the conditions of Khalil's release shall not include electronic monitoring or a requirement that a bond be immediately posted. "The hundreds of men who are left behind me shouldn't be there in the first place," Khalil told reporters on Friday, referring to others being detained. "The Trump administration are doing their best to dehumanize everyone here. Whether you are a U.S. citizen, an immigrant or just a person on this land, doesn't mean that you are less of a human." The ruling to release Khalil came at the same time an immigration judge in Jena, Louisiana, denied Khalil's request for asylum and ordered him to remain detained. Farbiarz's order superseded that ruling. The Department of Homeland Security sharply criticized the judge's decision to release Khalil, claiming in a statement on Friday that the ruling is "yet another example of how out-of-control members of the judicial branch are undermining national security," and arguing "an immigration judge, not a district judge, has the authority to decide if Mr. Khalil should be released or detained." "Their conduct not only denies the result of the 2024 election, it also does great harm to our constitutional system by undermining public confidence in the courts," the statement continued. Khalil, a green card holder who is married to an American citizen, was a graduate student at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) during a series of pro-Palestinian protests on campus against the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Khalil was detained in March, with the Trump administration saying then in part that his continued presence in the country would pose a risk to U.S. foreign policy. However, Judge Farbiarz issued a preliminary injunction last week barring the Trump administration from continuing to detain him based on that assertion. Khalil was detained for an additional week until his release on Friday after the government argued for his continued detention based on their allegation that he misrepresented information on his green card application, an allegation that Khalil and his attorneys deny. Khalil, a grandson of Palestinian refugees who was born in Syria and has Algerian citizenship, welcomed his first child, a son named Deen, while he was in custody. Khalil thanked his supporters during a press conference in New York on Saturday and vowed to continue to speak out for Palestinian human rights.
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Iranians Speak Out About Uncertainty Following US Attacks
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. "We don't know what to do anymore." That was the response from one Iranian civilian following U.S. airstrikes that destroyed three of the country's major nuclear facilities overnight. Speaking anonymously to Newsweek, the individual described the atmosphere inside Iran as one of fear, paralysis, and exhaustion. The coordinated bombings targeted three Iranian nuclear sites. U.S. President Donald Trump declared the facilities "obliterated" and warned Iran's leadership to choose "peace or tragedy." But for many civilians, the decision has already been made for them—and they are the ones living with the consequences. Why It Matters The bombing of nuclear sites inside Iran by the U.S. represents a flashpoint in a region already teetering on the edge of all-out war. The strikes came after Israel launched a wide-scale air assault last week, targeting Iranian infrastructure in what it described as a preemptive campaign against existential threats. Iran's government has labeled the subsequent U.S. strike a violation of international law, warning that Washington has crossed a "red line" that will have "everlasting consequences." With Iranian missiles now striking Israeli cities in response—and fears mounting of additional U.S. or Israeli attacks—civilians are increasingly caught in the crossfire, both literally and emotionally. People purchase drinks at a partially-shuttered Tehran Market on June 22, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. In the early hours of June 22, the United States dropped a series of bombs on several alleged nuclear... People purchase drinks at a partially-shuttered Tehran Market on June 22, 2025 in Tehran, Iran. In the early hours of June 22, the United States dropped a series of bombs on several alleged nuclear facilities in Iran, joining Israel's ongoing war with the country. Iran responded with a barrage of missiles at Israel and promised retaliation against US interests in the region. More Getty Images What to Know Multiple Iranians who spoke to Newsweek after the strikes described living in constant fear, their daily routines overshadowed by uncertainty. With internet and communication channels disrupted, many say they feel increasingly cut off from the outside world and from each other. Their emotions range from dread and anger to quiet ambivalence. "Every day we wake up fearing the worst," one person said. "We don't know what to expect next." For some, the U.S. attack has deepened longstanding mistrust. "Nothing Trump says means anything," said a dentist from the city of Yazd, which was bombed by Israel on Friday. "How can we trust the U.S.? One day they talk about peace, the next they drop bombs." Others admitted feeling conflicted—wary of their own government's actions but unconvinced the U.S. has any real interest in their well-being. Despite the devastation, some Iranians insisted they would endure. "We've been through war before," said a man in western Iran. "We will get through this as well." A banner bearing a painting that represents various categories of the Iranian society is deployed against the facade of a building in Tehran, with a message that reads in Farsi: " we are all soldiers... A banner bearing a painting that represents various categories of the Iranian society is deployed against the facade of a building in Tehran, with a message that reads in Farsi: " we are all soldiers of Iran", on June 22, 2025. President Donald Trump said the US military carried out strikes on June 22 on three Iranian nuclear sites and that Tehran "must now agree to end this war", following days of speculation over whether the United States would join its ally Israel's bombing campaign. More Getty Images US Strikes The U.S. airstrikes targeted Iran's nuclear infrastructure days after Israel launched its own broad offensive against military and intelligence sites. While Israel struck missile depots and command centers across the country, the U.S. focused on high-value nuclear facilities, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Pentagon officials described the damage as "extremely severe," with B-2 stealth bombers deploying bunker-buster munitions to breach fortified targets. Tehran condemned the American strikes as a violation of international law and warned they would not go unanswered. The Iranian health ministry has confirmed over 430 deaths so far, while missile barrages in response have killed 24 and injured more than 1,200 in Israel, according to Israeli authorities. What People Are Saying Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi: "The United States, a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, has committed a grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT by attacking Iran's peaceful nuclear installations." U.S. President Donald Trump: "Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace." What Happens Next Iran's leadership has vowed further retaliation, while President Trump has warned that any Iranian response will be met with overwhelming force. As military tensions escalate, civilians across Iran brace themselves for more uncertain nights, caught in the shadow of a conflict with no clear end in sight.
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Washington Post
Israel recovers bodies of three hostages from Gaza, IDF says
Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service and military forces recovered the bodies of three hostages from Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday. Israeli forces recovered the bodies of Ofra Keidar, 70; Yonatan Samerano, 21; and Shay Levinson, 19; who were abducted by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023. The Israel Defense Forces recovered their remains after a military operation Saturday in Gaza, the agencies said, adding that the operation was made possible by precise intelligence. The agencies did not say where the bodies had been found in Gaza.
