Alive in Gaza

[Editor's Note: Our latest update from Sameh comes in the wake of the latest Israeli invasion of Gaza. We get details on the latest situation on the ground, but we also had a chance to discuss in-depth the controversies surrounding humanitarian relief in Gaza, including the BBC's refusal to air an appeal for aid as well as allegations regarding Hamas control of funds.]

[Editor's note: In this latest update from Sameh Habeeb in Gaza, we talk about the conditions on the ground in the Gaza Strip in the days immediately after the Israelis declared a unilateral ceasefire and withdrew all of their combat troops. Regarding the tunnels, Sameh informs us "Israel has succeeded" in shutting down the smuggling tunnels for now. Sameh also tells us about the photos he took which you can find below.]

[Editor's note: We apologize for the brevity of this update, the cellular phone connection in Gaza City is extremely unstable. We attempted to answer some of your questions, but unfortunately very little of the conversation made it through. Not to worry, we will get them in next time for our next full update with Sameh. If you've got a question for Sameh in Gaza, leave us a comment, drop us a line on twitter, or email us at Aliveingaza at Gmail dot com. We ask every single question you submit. If you didn't hear yours this time around, don't worry, we'll get it in next time.]

Life has returned once more to Gaza after the ceasefire, the medical aid teams are still digging for more bodies from under the wreckage of buildings. The number of casualties is still increasing according to the ICRC, and most of the local markets are still closed due to the destruction that happened during the last stage, such as Firas public market and others.

I spoke with my aunt who lives in the southern area of the Gaza Strip (Al-Garara), and she told me that the people living there are receiving the UNRWA aid. The situation is calm there but the Israeli Apache helicopters are still flying over the area.

From the north western side of the strip, I spoke with our correspondent Sameh A, he said “the situation is kind of calm in their area where I live, the life is returning slowly, but some clashes is still happening on sea side of Gaza, there are some sea battles is happening between the Palestinian armed groups and the Israeli cost guards “

So what I am wondering is, will this ceasefire hold for a long time, while the Israeli forces are withdrawing slowly from the Gaza Strip, or will there be another attack from the Israeli forces one more time, or did these three weeks of assault bring peace somehow to the Israeli or the Palestinians?

For another example, today Mohamed Al-Jabaawi was telling me on the phone from where he stands in Heey Al-Zaitoon , that the people are trying to get back the their normal life , although the last bombing is not over completely, one child died today after touching unexploded cluster bomb near the car market in Heey Al-Zaitoon.

For me personally, am thinking of this child who died and still not knowing what the problem is between the Israeli and the Palestine, however bombs cannot distinguish between an Old man Child or a Hamas fighter, or Mortars can’t recognize an Israeli soldier of an Israeli child, I believe we can make the difference, and we can stop saying “am sorry” after killing a child or a women.

[Editor's note: In our latest conversation with Sameh Habeeb, we get an update on the latest ceasefire, the humanitarian situation, as well as the feelings of the Palestinian people on the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama. We also got a chance to ask Sameh some of your questions. Thanks to Jeffrey, Jinjirrie, Ernie Yacub, Abdullah, Ladu, and Tim Jeffries for submitting your questions. If you've got a question for Sameh in Gaza, leave us a comment, drop us a line on twitter, or email us at Aliveingaza at Gmail dot com. We ask every single question you submit. If you didn't hear yours this time around, don't worry, we'll get it in next time.]

[Editor's Note: Despite a seemingly endless trail of technical difficulties, we're very excited to bring you a new update from our correspondent in Gaza, Sameh Habeeb. In it he answers all of the questions you've submitted to us covering such topics as the Israeli military, public opinion of Hamas, and more details on the rumored use of "human shields." But first we begin with an update on the latest ceasefire. Special thanks to Matt Jackson for the transcript]

Download Interview with Sameh Habeeb

This is Ultimate Josh here with Small World News and we’ve got Sameh Habeeb who is Alive in Gaza. Sameh what can you tell us about what’s happening. Obviously the big thing on everyone’s mind is the ceasefire. Have you noticed anything? Is there less attacks?

Sameh Habeeb: Yes the Israeli ceasefire is a unilateral ceasefire it started yesterday 2 am Middle East time. With the first minutes and in the first hour of that ceasefire the clashes between the Palestinian fighters and Israeli Army took place in the Eastern part and Northern part of Gaza City leaving some people injured. After that the Israelis used the first response in the Eastern part of [Ell?] at the [Fahtah?] area. In the daylight the Palestinians moved out of their houses in which the day started to [sound of explosion?] get normal in many parts of the Gaza City. But two Palestinians were killed by the Israelis despite of that ceasefire. One of those who were killed, a child, they were going to their house to inspect and to have a look after what has happened from the Israeli devastation. And after that, I have toured into many areas in the Gaza Strip and was touring in these areas. I have, like, witnessed a very massive devastation in the regions that the Israelis were having their military ground operation. I got into Tal al-Hawwa Northern areas, the Eastern areas and [the sea?] I’ve seen like an earthquake stormed the region from the heavy devastation from the Israeli army in the place. Also, now, midday two airstrikes from the F-16s took place in retaliation of some Palestinian rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. In the wake of those two rockets Palestinians and the Palestinian factions, all except the Palestinian Front Liberation, announced a ceasefire for one week if the Israelis will go out from the Gaza Strip. The humanitarian situation is still the same. Therefore, people are not able to deal with the problems they have: the crossings are still not open, humanitarian aid not getting into the Gaza Strip, but something which is light, very light getting for the UNRWA, and people need thousands of trucks [talked over]

UJ: Now you said the crossings are still closed? Yesterday in Washington, Israeli Foreign Minister Livni insisted that the crossings were in fact open and you’re saying they’re not open?

SH: Yes they are not open! Israel is opening them for around 40 to 60 trucks out of the normal day which is 7, 6 to 700 so it’s nothing …

UJ: I see

SH: … you are speaking about one million and a half they need everything they need food they need commodities they need goods they need materials and now what is getting in is not enough. And now we are getting into another stage which is rebuilding Gaza and how will you be rebuilding Gaza without opening the crossings? Now many [folks ?] are just [sure?] enough that the crossings will be opening soon after having a deal with the Hamas faction and the Israelis and we are waiting the next weekend people are waiting in a [tender?] hope what will be happening soon in order to overcome the devastation. Many families turned homeless, thousands are still living in the UNRWA school waiting for something. Palestinians need urgent help and urgent supplies at this moment from food, cover, water and other basic needs. Still power not [coming on?] the Gaza Strip is [filled?] we have the problem water, fuel, gas, and other stuff like that. So all in one, the ceasefire is still in the first stages, Palestinians do need more, do need open the crossings, do need everything get into the Gaza Strip to overcome all burdens and troubles. And also one thing that happened today the paramedics found around one hundred dead bodies and they expect that they will find about around another one hundred under the ruble of their houses. Among those who were found today around 17 from the [Samoni?] family, which all the people who heard of the [Samoni?] family, those who were gathered by the Israeli soldiers and then they were fired. Some of those who were found, they were executed and they found remains of bullets not [charlbits?] so they were executed as the medical soldiers were saying. This is the image of what has happened today and I will be updating you with more developments in the coming days.

UJ: Let’s see. First off we have Dennis in the comments wants to know what kind of steps are being taken to protect specifically the children in Gaza. Are there any shelters or programs just for children?

SH: Well, no one in Gaza is safe and no any element of protection is being available on the ground at all. We don’t have bunkers, we don’t have basements we don’t have any place protected and indoors and supported by cement. This is not available at all in the Gaza Strip, so we will all try to protect our children and for our families. We both live [in our rags?] We just all of us just go in one of the rooms that wee feel this is the safe room in the house. But elements that the Israelis do have like places to hide in this is not available at all and even no kinds of cement was getting into the Gaza Strip in the past [few?] years due to the siege.

UJ: Ok. Our friends at Enduring America blog want to know what is the Israeli presence on the streets. Can you see any soldiers from where you are?

SH: When the military operation was on the ground no one was able to see the soldiers but we were able to see the tanks rolling and we could hear the voices but they have never got into the Gaza Strip and no one saw them. They were coming by the tanks in the eastern, northern and western part of Gaza City.

UJ: Ok. They also wanted to know what the Palestinian opinion is of Hamas, and Chava23 on Twitter also asked whether Palestinians feel any responsibility for the rocket attacks on Israel and wonders if they shouldn’t have done something themselves to stop the rocket attacks.

SH: Well now maybe the question that would be answered by the people here regarding if they support Hamas or not now people the main concern for the people how to respond for the problem, how to get their needs, how to get the humanitarian aid and such stuff like that. If you would ask anyone in politics now he would give you cold shoulders because no one is interested about that topic at all and regarding Hamas and it’s support this will be like very clear within the coming weeks if Hamas will be able to compensate the people, to give them more support, financial support, food support as a government, then Hamas will not lose much.

UJ: Ok. Tony C Yang on Twitter asks how bad the situation has gotten and really how it compares to what Palestinians were expecting when it first started. What do you, is it worse than you guys were thinking or about the same?

SH: Palestinians did not just think that the Israelis would do such big military operation because the Palestinians know that the projectiles, the rockets being hurled into Israel is not comparable. It’s incomparable at all with the Israeli arsenal of weapons with the F16 and the Apache and other stuff like that. The Palestinians rockets killed around 27 since 2005 while the Israeli Army and Israeli military killed more than 1300. So the people were not reckoning that this would be happening despite they knew deep down that these rockets fired from Gaza are doing nothing, so they didn’t expect that the Israelis would be doing this. And this resulted in a humanitarian crisis and killings and killings for civilians and psychological problems and physical devastations so Gaza was really not able to endure such kind of war.

UJ; Ok, now often in the media we’ve seen reports that Hamas is using human shields, but you said before that this is propaganda and its actually Israelis who are using human shields.

SH: Well I would not say this personally. And I will say the UNRWA itself, the bank’s the Israelis, and the UNRWA itself said “no”, UNWRA said there was no people were firing rockets and no militants were taking the Palestinian refugees and the UNRWA school as human shields. I’m not saying this but the UNRWA. So Israel is, yes, using propaganda and the UNRWA [is backing them?]. When you have killed the big number of the civilians, they started to make like some scenarios to go out of this trouble they have got in.

UJ: Ok, well, thank you. Do you have any final thoughts for your listeners?

SH: Thank you indeed I would be happy to answer more questions next time.

UJ: Ok, great. Thank you Sameh.

SH: Thank you, sir.

[Ed. Sameh has enjoyed very much answering your questions. Submit your questions for Sameh in the comments below, ask us on twitter, or email us at aliveingaza at gmail dot com]

[Editor's Note: We are experiencing technical difficulties getting content out of Gaza right now. We're working on this right now, but in the meantime check out our sister site Alive in Baghdad, or consider supporting Alive in Gaza, especially with funds or equipment. Don't forget, you can follow us on Twitter as well. Thank you for all your hard work and support so far. Stay tuned for more.]

[Editor's Note: The following is an audio interview with Alive in Gaza Correspondent Sameh Habeeb and Small World News Editor Brian Conley. Recorded this morning around 7am Gaza local time, Sameh gives us an update on what's happening in his area, as well as answering your listener questions. The disconnect at the end is from telecommunication issues. ]

Download Interview with Sameh Habeeb

BC:  Ok, I’m recording on the phone with Sameh Habeeb who is Alive in Gaza right now.  Sameh what is the situation like there?

SH:  Ok, thank you and I’m happy to be like one of the first to start Alive in Gaza.  I’m based now in Gaza City officially in the Eastern part of Gaza City we’re one of the [points of?] the military [?] situation taking place.  Now I could hear easily and I could see easily the F-16 and easily the Apache hovering in the sky and [lodus tanks?] and shooting and firing at many targets, I don’t know the exact targets being bombed at the moment, after that we have the artillery machines are being firing into some areas and farms in the Eastern part of Gaza City.  Also we have fire from the Northern part of Gaza City, Alatra area and [al-Subbia?] area and many people who are injured in the last 20 minutes the situation is getting hot at the moment to go back to go [in?] Rafah, the Israelis have bombed Rafah City especially the borders with Egypt with around 100 tanks, from the F-16’s, in Han Yunes and [Han Hozaha?] town mid of Gaza Strip.  There was [?] which more than 15 people were killed and many accounts and many witnesses appeared on the [cruelty?] and the brutality of this Army that has unleashed dogs on people, that has stolen the medical stuff,  medical ambulances and occupied them and they tried to act like medical staff in order to try to kidnap some people.  This is what has happened today at the Gaz…

[Cut in recording]

BC:  Ok  [CUT]

SH: Yeah.  Well the situation is always like intensive, the situation is always since the early morning is full of action, is full of Israeli F-16 and Apaches they’re hovering, and now you could hear the bombings from the artillery shells.  The early morning the F-16, Apaches and Israeli tanks start to shell in the early morning while the Israeli troops at the moment and especially in the morning try to get into the Gaza City, but still they are into the outskirts of Gaza they are not able to get into Gaza City still due too the heavy fighting with the Palestinian fighters and the resistance who are using many tactics they are not being approachable they have many tactics to fight the Israeli Army and Israeli soldiers who are being trying to get into Gaza City for around ten days and until now they haven’t succeeded at all.  This is what the Israelis are trying to do at this moment.  As for me I have just told you what has happened.  And at this moment the escalation is going on east of Gaza north of Gaza City.  This is what I try to report on I just have the news from Rafah [?] the Israelis F16 totally bombed the [town’s?] area resulting in destroying about 30 houses for civilians and injuring many people.  Today there was a massacre in [Hozahn?] middle of Han Yunes as the Israeli Army occupied the area east of Han Yunes totally and killed many people and they have used the phosphorus bombs they have used [Cut?] Yes, yes, yes!  If you just tune to any radio, sorry, just tune to any, sorry, if you just go and just open the TV from the outside of Gaza you can see the phosphorus bombs, but I have seen these bombs by my eyes and they have used them in they was in my area they was like a bomb that being bombed from the air or from an artillery shell I don’t know the targeting the way they have used but when it goes in the sky it explodes and make like small [balls?] fly like, I don’t know how to describe it I’ve never seen something like that.  And many cases arrived into the hospital and I was making some photos and [news reports?] about that about the phosphorus bombs and I met some doctors who told me about that many cases arrived with heavy burns that completely destroyed the bodies and the tissues of the body and it will be just very hard to go even with time many people died from such [?] The human rights watch criticized Israel for that then Amnesty criticized Israel for that and said Israel is using private weapons against civilians.  Of course as you know Israel was saying that the aim of this military operation is designed to kill civilians, but what we have seen, sorry, to target militants but what we have seen on the ground they have targeted all the civilians and this was so clear in all the past day.

BC:  Ok, okay, sure.  Can you tell me some people they’re saying that Hamas is using human shields and is using civilians to protect themselves.  What can you say about this?.

SH:  Well, we’ve heard many accounts and it’s propaganda outside.  There’s no way that Hamas and other fighters use people here as human shields.  Everyone is committed to his house basically and no one has left his house except those who were kicked out by the Israelis from the Northern area.  And those who were kicked got to the UNRWA schools across the Gaza Strip and one of the schools was bombed by the Israeli Army and at the end of the day Israelis were trying to justify what they had done and said that there was rocket fired from the area where the school was taking place and this is a mere lie and they have bombed many mosques and said that they are being used for weapons despite some of the mosques were like a shelter for some civilians.  This is not true, people are here safe and no one can be using them as human shields this is completely false and this is a mere Israeli propaganda to hit the target the civilians and if a big number of civilians will died as what has happened in the death schools and then at the end of the day Israelis will say, “Oh Hamas was using them as human shields.” This is not true, all of those who died they are all civilians.  And one of the accounts that we heard, the [Samoni?] family.  There was no fighters, nothing from Hamas, nothing from other factions and they have gathered them in one house then they have bombed them despite no militants to take them and like how you say to take them and like [?]

BC:  Can you tell us how is your family and is everyone okay with you?  You know, how is everything going just for you personally and your family?

SH:  You know, I am one of one million and a half families, I suffer what they suffer, I live and experience what they do.  We are in bad status.  It contains not only the military operation, we are under psychological pressure, we are being trapped and committed to our houses since the start of this war, add to that we have a very problematic situation inside my house in terms of water in terms of food, [beds?] gas, fuel, power communications and everything.  Everything in my house as well as hundreds of thousands is like [?] situation.  When they need to get some bread they need to wait around 6 or 7 hours in some of the bakeries and unfortunately at the end of the day I would not be able to maybe bring some bread for my family.  Even if I need water the water here is contaminated due to lack of chlorine materials to treat this water.  Even the [generators?] are not able to [bum?] water for civilians who are living in far and remote areas in the [desert or religious?] areas.  Not having water they are forced to buy water and the irony here even if will buy water they will not be able to leave their houses sometimes because it is too dangerous, too hazardous to go outside especially in the daylight.  Even those who are being like moved and moving from their houses to bring something in the [night?] they are being exposed to big danger which is being hit from the drones.  So we have three main problems, the problem of the ongoing shelling from the air force from the naval force from the ground force, one another problem we have is the problem of psychological fear and trauma and the third problem is the humanitarian crisis.  This is applicable for all Palestinian houses and every individual living here in the Gaza Strip.  Ok … this is Sameh Habeeb for … Now you can hear the bombings!  Now these are the military operations I mean these are the military air force taking place and hitting many areas in the Gaza City specifically in the Eastern part of Gaza City the situation is turning hot again and it seems that we would have an endless fighting this night in which many kind of weapons will be used and I can also hear also the naval forces [intervening?] and some bombs are from the Naval forces are being used with the [distinguished holes?]  I hoped this night will be like very light with normal [tending?]  On the Palestinian side, this is Sameh Habeeb for Alive in Gaza, Palestine.

[Ed. Submit your questions for Sameh and our other correspondents in the comments below, ask us on twitter, or email us at aliveingaza at gmail dot com]

[Editor's Note: This conversation was recorded at approximatly 10pm Gaza time. Sameh describes the actions there as well as recent events in Rafah in the south of Gaza Strip. Listeners may note the crying baby in the background, this is my daughter Layla, safe in the United States, not a child in Gaza. Her only concern is her inattentive father. Secondly, please comment with your questions for Sameh, we hope to begin doing an interview with Sameh each morning and evening Gaza time.]]



Sameh Habeeb’s Second Dispatch from Gaza