By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, civilians find themselves caught in relentless violence, enduring harrowing experiences that expose the profound human cost of war. Recent footage from Gaza, shared by paramedic Nevine al Dawawi, presents a stark insight into the unfolding devastation in Jabalia, an area heavily impacted by Israeli airstrikes.
On October 21, Jabalia Boys Elementary School, repurposed as a shelter for displaced families, became the target of an Israeli airstrike, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Al Dawawi’s footage shows the aftermath of the attack, where the screams of injured civilians, the sight of children with severe injuries, and the anguish of grieving parents are disturbingly evident. In the chaos, al Dawawi is seen rushing to assist the wounded despite limited medical supplies and the escalating danger around her. In one heartrending scene, she encounters Lina Ibrahim Abu Namos, a mother whose two children were killed in the attack. Namos describes the horror of witnessing her daughter’s final moments, a traumatic event that encapsulates the terror experienced by countless families affected by the ongoing violence.
Paramedic al Dawawi shared that Jabalia’s residents, besieged and cut off from essential resources, faced increasing hardships even before the attack. Israeli quadcopters warned civilians to vacate the school, and within ten minutes, the school came under fire, leading to what al Dawawi describes as a massacre, with over 30 wounded and at least ten fatalities. According to al Dawawi, the lack of water, food, and essential supplies exacerbated the suffering of civilians seeking refuge.
International calls for de-escalation and protection of civilians have increased as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Tor Wennesland, a senior UN diplomat, recently condemned the escalating violence in Gaza, asserting that “nowhere is safe.” He underscored the urgent need for humanitarian aid and condemned the impact on non-combatants, highlighting that attacks on civilians contravene international laws governing conflict.
Israel asserts that its military actions aim to neutralize threats from Hamas, who they allege use civilians as human shields, a claim refuted by al Dawawi and other residents. Human rights advocates argue that the attack on Jabalia may violate the laws of war, which demand proportionality and protection of civilians, particularly children. Legal experts continue to scrutinize both the justification for such strikes and their alignment with international humanitarian laws.
For Namos, like many in Gaza, the future is uncertain. “We’ve lost everything,” she laments, devastated by the loss of her children and the constant threat to her remaining family. Her experience is tragically shared by countless others displaced by the conflict, whose stories underscore the immediate need for a ceasefire and secure access to humanitarian aid. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has raised significant questions about the protection of civilians, international intervention, and the accountability of all parties involved.
