A Palestinian resident in northern Gaza has described the dire situation in the region, where he and dozens of others have been trapped in their homes for over two weeks as Israeli military operations escalate. Imran Jaber, a professor residing in Jabalya refugee camp, reported being 'besieged' for 17 days along with his family and five children, enduring extreme conditions.
According to Jaber, 80 other individuals, including women, children, and elderly people, have sought shelter in his 500-square-meter home after their own houses were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes. The United Nations Human Rights Office highlighted that since October 6, life in north Gaza has become unbearable for Palestinians, many of whom were already struggling with starvation and displacement.
The Israeli military has urged civilians to evacuate north Gaza, yet it continues to carry out relentless bombing campaigns, particularly targeting Jabalya Camp. Jaber emphasized the grim reality in Jabalya, stating that residents face the choice of perishing from airstrikes, lack of medical care, or starvation due to the scarcity of food and water.
The UN has raised concerns over intensified military operations leading to numerous civilian casualties and a severe shortage of humanitarian aid reaching the affected populations in the north. Jaber revealed that the absence of fuel, necessary for operating water distillation pumps, has deprived northern Gaza of clean water for nearly 20 days since the latest Israeli incursion commenced.
'We are forced to consume swamp water that was previously reserved for our animals,' Jaber lamented, underscoring the desperate circumstances faced by residents in the region.
