The latest flare-up in tensions between Israel and its Palestinian residents has now entered its second week. As soldiers and belligerent militias fight it out on the streets under a rain of rockets, it is pertinent to understand the grave humanitarian crisis and the plight of the masses.
Here are some quotes by people that tell the horrific tale.??
"People in Gaza have been reviving an old tradition in which some families exchange their kids, so that in case some get bombed, the others would live. My family is spread out over three houses in three different locations as if they're trying to avert a massacre."
-- @mqudaih9
"We decided to stay together because if we died it's better to die together. At the end the only thing that give us hope in a city like Gaza is our families."
-- Eman Taysir
"Whatever [the Israelis] have done, they never managed to kill our smiles."
-- Abdul Mu¡¯ti Abd Rabbu
"Until now we didn't find the body of Maryam. My cousin's 3-year-old daughter. Her 5-year-old brother Zaid and pregnant mother Reema were killed with the same airstrike at their house. But they were buried without her since no one could find her body parts."
-- Lana Shaheen
"And the night terror begins. Israel Navy is shelling again. Feels much closer to our area than usual."
-- Jason Shawa
"Its suddenly too calm. Even the drone buzzing is faint. This calmness scares me because usually it brings something horrific after it. Lets hope I'm wrong."
-- Omar Ghraieb
?
"I get exhausted from watching TV, because it depicts us like numbers or cartoon characters, but with no superhero on our side. I want to say that we are not silent, inanimate creatures. We are humans who want to be free."
-- Eman Ibrahim
¡°I did the strangest thing today - I exchanged my children with my brother¡¯s. I took two of his children, and gave him two of mine. So in case I get bombed, one of mine will survive & if he gets bombed, one of his will live on.¡±
-- Umar Ubaid
"Daddy, can you hear the bombing? I thought that you died!"
-- Hamza Mohammed
Gaza's death toll on Wednesday crossed 227, including 64 children and 38 women. As many as?72,000 Palestinians have been displaced in Gaza Strip ever since the fresh conflict erupted.