By Qais Omar Darwesh Omar
RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) — As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise under 15 days of unrelenting Israeli bombardment and blockade, foreigners stuck in the Palestinian enclave told Anadolu of its plight.
"People die every single day, every second," said Aden, a 10-year-old US national at Rafah, Gaza's sole border crossing with Egypt.
Israeli strikes had landed mere meters away from he and his family as they were waiting at Rafah to leave Gaza, said the young boy. "What I have seen in Gaza, I've never seen it before," he added.
"It was scary. The sound, it's loud, and the cars are shaking," he said, also mentioning recent Israeli strikes on a church and hospital where hundreds were taking shelter.
"And it's just sad to look at the babies that are dead and injured. It's really sad."
For days, dozens of foreigners and Palestinians with foreign nationalities have been gathering near the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to leave Gaza.
Earlier this month, Israel ramped up its siege of the Gaza Strip, which has been in place since 2007, in response to a surprise attack by Palestinian resistance group Hamas, which rules the enclave.
As a result, Gaza has been experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, with no electricity, while water, food, fuel, and medical supplies are running out.
Egyptian authorities have required the passage of humanitarian aid into Gaza through Rafah, as well as a several-hour humanitarian pause, before allowing the exit of dual nationals from the enclave.
The conflict in the Gaza Strip, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
At least 4,385 Palestinians, including 1,756 children and 1,000 women have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.
"The streets are all bombed. The houses, when we drive, they're gone. It's sad. And some people died in those houses. Sometimes, they (Israel) don't even tell them if their house is going to get bombed," said Aden.
On US support for Israel, he said it was inhumane for Washington to send arms that Tel Aviv uses to bomb homes and schools.
Mahmoud Abu Salim, a Swedish national, told Anadolu that he had been sleeping on the ground with his daughter in front of the Rafah crossing, hoping to leave, but to no avail.
His daughter, Ghazal, "is suffering from psychological problems as a result of the continued Israeli bombing that is constantly heard," he said.
Abu Salim also noted that was in contact with his country's embassy and the Egyptian side in order to leave.
"Gaza had been beautiful. The Israeli bombing destroyed schools, the buildings, and everything," Ghazal said, adding that she was frightened by Israel's bombardment.
Another US national, Dina Al-Says, said she had been trying to cross the border for days and hoped it would be opened so she and her family could exit.
Al-Says, 37, said they were fighting to survive and to cross borders.
* Writing by Ikram Kouachi