GAZA, (PIC)
With immense faith and resilience, the Palestinians in Gaza arm themselves after 400 days of relentless Israeli genocide that has upended their lives, turning them into displaced people in their own beloved homeland.
Israeli occupation forces continue their merciless bombing and crimes across Gaza, from north to south, killing and destroying while using starvation to implement their criminal plans, aided by Arab and Islamic betrayal and complete silence from a world that has failed the Gaza test.
Resilience and patience despite betrayal
Ahmed Abu Osama, a displaced person in one of the tents in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, told the PIC reporter: “We never imagined the war would last this long, but it is Allah’s will. We have no choice but to be patient and resilient, and we are certain that Allah will not abandon us. These sacrifices will bear fruit, even if it takes time.”
Abu Osama did not hide his disappointment with the Arab and Islamic betrayal and the international silence, “Everyone has let us down, leaving us alone against the Israeli killing machine that has shown no mercy to children, women, or the elderly. They claim to be fighting Hamas and the resistance, but we know they are lying. They are killing everyone and destroying everything. But we will not abandon our homeland, and we will not surrender.”
During the 400 days of genocide, Israeli forces committed 3,798 massacres, resulting in 53,552 deaths and missing persons, including 10,000 missing and 43,552 confirmed deaths (according to the Ministry of Health). Among them were 17,385 children, 209 of whom were infants who were born and died during the genocide, and 825 children under the age of one who were killed during the war.
Northern Gaza facing evacuation
As the 400th day of genocide passes, northern Gaza faces a major turning point, with the Israeli occupation forces waging a massive assault for 36 days with the stated goal of completely emptying the area of its residents, killing or capturing as many as possible.
According to government media reports, around 1,900 citizens have been killed, more than 4,000 injured, and hundreds arrested during the 36 days of assault, along with the destruction of thousands of homes.
Our reporter spoke with eyewitnesses who described the ethnic cleansing crimes being committed neighborhood by neighborhood in the north, where homes are being demolished and bombed with people still inside. The wounded are dying because there are no ambulances or civil defense services available, which have been out of operation for 18 days.
One woman who survived the area said, “They forced us to flee after they bombed the school where we were staying in Jabalia camp. We lived for more than 25 days without food, sharing scraps of bread. Then they bombed the school, killing 10 people inside. We left under fire, and they mistreated us and arrested the young men.”
She added, “While we were in the school, we could hear the explosions and the destruction of homes. It’s clear they are destroying everything in their path for no reason.”
Although the Israeli occupation claims not to be implementing the generals’ plan, which involves displacing the residents of northern Gaza and besieging the resistance fighters there, forcing them to choose between surrender or death, and turning the area into a closed military zone, Israeli journalists warn that if this succeeds, it could be repeated in Gaza City.
For now, tens of thousands of northern Gaza residents continue to resist, moving from area to area in defiance of the displacement plans and the evacuation of the region.
The largest mass killing operation
After 400 days of genocide, Dr. Rami Abdu, director of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, confirms that there is no crime or violation that can be imagined that Israel has not committed, expanding its atrocities to horrific and catastrophic levels.
Abdu adds, “We now have two million displaced and forcibly evicted people. We are witnessing the largest mass killing operation in a short period, primarily targeting civilians. More than 50,000 people have been killed, at least half of whom are women and children. The details include horrifying crimes such as executions and arbitrary killings, including the killing of those raising white flags, the murder, torture, and rape of detainees, and using them as human shields.”
Starvation as a weapon
In addition to killing and displacement, starvation has emerged as one of the most painful weapons used by the occupation, while the world turns a blind eye to what is happening.
As nearly 40 days have passed without any aid entering northern Gaza, the residents of the south are facing a different kind of famine, as goods have run out of the markets, and what remains is priced at several times its normal cost, far beyond the people’s ability to buy.
Human rights advocate Rami Abdu pointed out that they have called for a famine declaration in Gaza, as Israel has used food and water as weapons of war from day one, with official acknowledgment. Meanwhile, the global response has been shockingly indifferent to all that is happening.
He continued, “We never imagined that in our time, dozens of people could die of starvation, or that hundreds could be bombed and injured, while ambulances and civil defense teams are prevented from working, as is happening now in northern Gaza.”
The days continue to pass, and the aggression persists. The people of Gaza lie on the ground and sleep under the sky, bidding farewell to their loved ones every day, but their message is clear: We are staying, and we will not leave.
