Alive in Gaza: "We Do Not Know What Tomorrow is Holding For Us"

Our colleagues at Alive in Gaza bring us two first-hand accounts of the situation. They have recorded the observations of photojournalist Sameh Habeeb, and they have posted this despatch from Muhammad al Ja'bawi, who is in a UN shelter:

The situation is deteriorating each day inside the Gaza Strip. I cannot find the words to describe what is going on now in Gaza. The shelling is non-stop from the north and east of Gaza. The Israeli troops are slowly approaching the northern side of Gaza, where the Hamas resistance is still on.

Today I contacted my cousin Ahmad, who lives close to northern Gaza in (….) Quarter. He said the Israeli troops suffered grave loss, whereas Hamas emplaced a great deal of improvised explosive devices targeting the Israeli forces as they were advancing.

As for me, I had to evacuate my house after we heard loud sound of shooting and missiles. We are now staying in an UNRWA-run school. Thank Goodness there is not any Hamas operatives or other resistance members among us in this school, but we do not know what tomorrow is holding for us. This is our first day in school. We have enough food and some supplies that will see us through for a number of days.

I will try to contact you again today, or tomorrow morning, God willing. I will most likely get hold of a new battery for my mobile phone.