Scriptonite in Gaza: “They Shot My Baby Dead In My Arms”

Last Updated: August 18, 2014By Tags: , , ,

140818scriptonitegaza

The Scriptonite blog has been out in the field, making a documentary about the latest conflict between Israel and Gaza, and blogging about the experience. Be warned – what follows may not be for the faint-hearted. It is posted here without editorial comment as a reminder that Israel/Gaza has not gone away.

“Today we are up early to film in Khuza’a, a town in Khan Younis, Gaza.  Around 12,000 people live in this previously vibrant place, with its beautiful buildings in an array of colours.  It sits in southern Gaza Strip, near to the Israeli border.

“Now, it is mostly destroyed.

“Crumbling buildings, their innards spilling into the streets, stretch as far as the eye can see. The heat is almost unbearable, the road dissolved to sand, and people are everywhere.  They are talking, clearing the street of rubble, sheltering under makeshift tents – their new homes, amid the rubble of their obliterated houses and apartments.

“What happened here, between July 23rd and 25th, almost defies belief. Israeli forces wreaked a havoc the likes of which most of us could never imagine.  Human Rights Watch have stated that repeated war crimes were committed by Israel on its brutal attack of Khuza’a. Their report reads:

Israeli forces in the southern Gaza town of Khuza’a fired on and killed civilians in apparent violation of the laws of war in several incidents.

These included repeated shelling that struck apparent civilian structures, lack of access to necessary medical care, and the threat of attack from Israeli forces as they tried to leave the area.

Israeli forces opened fire on civilians trying to flee Khuza’a, but no Palestinian fighters were present at the time and no firefights were taking place.”

“F-16s appeared in the skies at around 4am on the 23rd of July, 2014.  First they dropped gas on the town, sending residents fleeing in panic, or choking, stricken in their beds.  Those who could not leave their homes were blown to oblivion within them, or shot where they lay.  Those who fled were fired on by Israeli troops.

“One woman attempted to flee, carrying her baby son.  She reports that an Israeli sniper shot him dead in her arms, and told her to leave him on the ground before they would let her leave.”

To read on, please visit the Scriptonite site here.

Follow me on Twitter: @MidWalesMike

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4 Comments

  1. amnesiaclinic August 18, 2014 at 4:56 pm - Reply

    The real picture is beginning to surface.

    Question:

    How does Israel hold so much power over western leaders that they support Israel’s ‘right to defend itself’ over the blatant massacre of civilians many of them children and help themselves to American hellfire missiles without the White House even knowing?

    This man – is he a man? – had 26 standing ovations from Congress.

    I’m sure it’s on YouTube if you have the stomach to watch!

    This article gives very useful background information:

    http://www.intifada-palestine.com/2014/08/israels-real-target-hamas/

    x

    • Mike Sivier August 18, 2014 at 7:11 pm - Reply

      Which man? Do you mean Mr Netanyahu? As this blog has mentioned before, he is very dangerous indeed.

  2. chriskitcher August 18, 2014 at 6:29 pm - Reply

    Whatever people say the Israelis are complete and utter bastards. They have to be brought before the Hague War Crimes Tribunal if there is any justice at all.

    • Mike Sivier August 18, 2014 at 7:09 pm - Reply

      For the sake of balance I should point out that not everybody in Israel believes that Palestine needs to be crushed, despite a media barrage that mercilessly creates that impression. There was, I believe, a rally in Tel Aviv during the weekend, attended by thousands of people, calling for an end to hostilities and a peaceful solution – a photo of it appeared on Facebook. I meant to save it and use it, but real life got in the way. If I can still find it, I’ll put it up.

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