While Israel still prevents foreign journalists from entering Gaza, franceinfo was able to collect the testimony of this resident who fled the North where he assures that “ethnic cleansing” is at work.
What is happening in northern Gaza? The ultimatum that the United States gave to Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in the region ends on Wednesday, November 13, when the Jewish state had 30 days. It is difficult to know what precisely is happening in this region: foreign journalists are still prohibited from entering the area. franceinfo was however able to collect the rare testimony of a resident, Youssef, who left the north of the enclave recently, fleeing under bombs.
It is the story of a forced exile. “It was difficult. When we reached Zayed Square, they started shooting at us. They targeted vacant lots with artillery. Shards injured people. We left on foot. It was Terrifying!”he exclaims.
This exile began a little over a month ago, in October 2024, when the Israeli army accelerated its offensive on the Jabalia refugee camp, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Youssef then left with his wife and three children. The fourth died in a bombing almost a year ago. Youssef fled the city, in fear, with all his neighbors.
“We left on foot. They emptied our bags and asked us to undress and wear our underwear. If there is any doubt about a person, they are taken aside and subjected to a full search.”
“If they decide to arrest her, they put her in a white jumpsuit, blindfold her and then she is taken away… We don’t know what happens to her,” he continues.
More than the absence of humanitarian aid, it was the incessant artillery fire that made Youssef flee, much worse, he says, than the air raids. Buildings are destroyed and there have been no rescuers for several weeks now to save the victims, he reports. “I left because of the random strikes. There are no more safe places in the area. Homes, hospitals… Dead bodies are lying in the streets and dogs are eating them.”
“The situation in Jabalia is catastrophic. It’s horrible. What they are doing is ethnic cleansing. That’s what we call genocide.”
When asked, the Israeli army categorically refutes the accusation of genocide. She claims to target Hamas fighters and minimize, “as much as possible“civilian losses maintains one of its spokespersons.
On November, leaders of Arab and Muslim countries meeting in Saudi Arabia called on Israel to fully withdraw from the Arab territories it occupies to achieve peace.global“in the Middle East.”A just and comprehensive peace in the region (…) cannot be achieved without putting an end to the Israeli occupation of all the occupied territories“since 1967 – when Israel began occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan -“and this in accordance with UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace plan“, mentions the final declaration of the summit. This joint summit of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, hosted by Saudi Arabia, regional heavyweight, calls for the unity of all the Palestinian territories – band of Gaza and the occupied West Bank – within a Palestinian state, of which he reaffirms that the capital must be East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel.
According to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health, nearly 44,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in Israeli retaliation after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 Palestinians. on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count. 97 people kidnapped that day remain hostages in Gaza, 34 of whom are declared dead by the army.
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