War in Gaza: after 150 days of war, the population is suffocating
In Gaza, it has been 150 days since the war began.
And there is still no truce in sight.
The Palestinian territory and its population are suffocating: death, fighting, aerial bombardments... The UN urges all countries to “
flood
” Gaza with aid, in order to save the children who are dying of starvation.
An assault tank maneuvers near the border between Israel and Gaza, March 6, 2024. © Amir Cohen / Reuters
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
In
Gaza
, more than 30,000 people have been killed since the start of
the Israeli offensive
, according to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry.
“
I wake up every morning, and I am immediately overcome by a feeling of helplessness
,” says Nader, a father, who tries to protect his children.
“
Right now, we are in Dir al-Balah.
We left Khan Younes.
There, we were under bombs
,” he remembers.
A loved one was killed.
Since then, the children have been traumatized.
"
They are afraid.
They are terrified.
They no longer sleep at night
,” he says, adding that the children have even started wetting the bed.
“
A pack of diapers costs around $50.
We suffer from various shortages.
I spent my day trying to find an anti-lice shampoo for my daughter
,” says Nader.
Diseases, infections, parasites, Nader nevertheless considers himself lucky.
For the moment, he finds something to feed his children.
“
All politicians are liars
”
“
In northern Gaza, people are starving.
Last week, some tried to
collect flour
, and the Israeli army shot at them.
We are oppressed, broken... And the worst is that we are made to believe that soon there will be a solution
,” continues the Gazans.
“
The American President spoke of a truce which was to come into effect last Monday.
Biden is a liar.
All politicians are liars
,” he concludes.
Five months after October 7, the Israeli security failure
Five months ago, on October 7, Hamas launched a deadly attack against Israel, killing nearly 1,200 men, women and children.
The country is in shock.
Israel, which presents itself as the home of the Jewish people, has failed to protect its population.
Its army, its formidable intelligence services, saw nothing coming.
A major security failure, from which the country is trying to learn lessons.
Especially since young soldiers posted on the border with Gaza alerted their superiors for months.
But she chose to ignore them.
With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
“
I did my military service in September 2020
,” remembers Talia, who was part of the lookout unit, the “Tatzpitanit”.
“I’m 21 years old and I’m Franco-Israeli,” she adds, posted in towers at the country’s borders.
Eyes glued to surveillance screens, the mission is necessary, but thankless.
“
In general, little importance is given to the words of the lookout soldiers.
Because we are young and we are 18 years old.
We are at the bottom of the army hierarchy
,” she regrets.
Unusual movements reported at the border
The slightest suspicious event observed at the border must be reported to the officers.
“
When we report an incident or something abnormal to high-ranking commanders, they contact the intelligence services directly, either the Shin Bet
(domestic intelligence, editor's note)
or the Mossad
(intelligence). exterior, Editor’s note)
.
But if what we say is not consistent with what the Shin Bet says, then they don't give us any importance
,” laments Talia.
According to the Israeli daily
Haaretz
, before October 7, for months, Tatzpitanit reported unusual movements on the border with Gaza.
“
The fact that these alerts were not heard really makes me angry.
And all because of the incompetence of the IDF and the government.
It's still crazy, because the higher-ups should have understood with the alerts and seen how serious it was.
And so do what is necessary.
It is not normal that this was not taken into account, and that there were such flaws, which gave rise to such a massacre and such a catastrophe
,” she concludes.
Read alsoMiddle East: report from the United Nations special envoy on the violence and rapes committed on October 7
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