The Situation
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched more than 200 air strikes in Gaza on 14-15 November with more attacks planned and Israel threatens to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages. The current death total is 95 Palestinians killed, 720 wounded.Missiles and airstrikes continue raining down on both sides of the border. During a brief conversation by phone with an eyewitness, an IRIN news reporter heard three air strikes in the course of a few minutes in Gaza City alone. And in Israel, one red alert is going off after another.
“We have a safety room in our apartment but I never believed we'd have to use it,” said Shira, a mother of two in Petach Tikva. “We were not at all prepared for this.”
There are differing accounts of how this round of violence started, but it is the most serious escalation since Israel’s attack on Gaza in 2008-9, which killed some 1,400 people - almost all of them Palestinian, and at least half of them civilians.
Gaza residents are confused and anxious,” one mental health worker told PHR. “There are ongoing explosions all over the Strip. Media reports are exaggerated, and are causing great stress. People hear about Israeli casualties and fear further escalation. Queues outside bakeries and shops are very long because people fear that Israeli invasion is close. Kids are in a terrible mental state, crying from anxiety."
What is Needed?
If the previous Israeli Operation Cast Lead is any indication, the impact on civilians will be huge. It is imperative that we help provide urgent short term relief before Israel closes all the border crossing in case of ground invasion. The IDF have already placed 75,000 troops on alert so this could be another long and drawn our siege with heavy casualties expected in Gaza especially civilian men, women and children.There are no reserves. The Gaza Strip has been living off of subsistence levels for several years now. When escalations occur, there is no buffer. Some areas have already run out of bread - a result of the blockade on Gaza. There is an urgent need of food aid, lifesaving drugs, blankets, tents, dry milk for children and other emergency items.
Donate Now!
