Words Fail Us.
The horror in the Gaza Strip has been going on for so many years. We have reported on the blockade, the poverty, the wars. We have shared stories of life without water, without electricity, without hope. We have explained what international law requires and what conscience dictates.
Now, words fail us.
Eleven days of incessant airstrikes on or near civilian homes. With nowhere to run and no safe place. Dozens of people killed, thousands injured, thousands more bereft of their homes and all their earthly possessions.
This is not a mistake, these are no “exceptional cases”. It is the policy.
B’Tselem’s field researchers in the Gaza Strip spoke with people who lost their loved ones, their homes, literally everything. These are their words.
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a-Shuja'iyeh neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires two missiles at street, killing man
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east of Jabalya Refugee Camp
Military fires missiles at farm, killing four farmers harvesting peaches
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‘Abasan al-Jadidah, Khan Yunis
Soldiers shoot and kill 17-year-old working in field
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a-Sabra neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires three missiles at street, killing six people
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al-Fukhari neighborhood, southeastern Khan Yunis
Military fires missile at three children on way home from barbershop, killing two
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a-Shuja'iyeh neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missile, killing two men
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al-Bureij Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip
Military fires missile at house, killing 14-year-old and 19-year-old walking along street
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al-Qarayah al-Badwiyah al-Maslakh, Beit Lahiya
Military fires shells at house, killing six, including three sisters and 9-month-old baby
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al-Bureij Refugee Camp, central Gaza Strip
Military fires missile at house, killing passerby
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al-Amal neighborhood, Beit Lahiya
Military fires missile at house, killing woman
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a-Shuja'iyeh neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missile, killing two minors and a man
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al-Wehdah Street, a-Rimal neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missiles at four buildings late at night, killing 46 people (part 1)
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al-Wehdah Street, a-Rimal neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missiles at four buildings late at night, killing 46 people (part 2)
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al-Wehdah Street, a-Rimal neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missiles at four buildings late at night, killing 46 people (part 3)
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al-Wehdah Street, a-Rimal neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missiles at four buildings late at night, killing 46 people (part 4)
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Wadi Gaza, a-Nuseirat Refugee Camp
Military fires mortar shell at house, killing man
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al-Wehdah Street, a-Rimal neighborhood, Gaza City
Military fires missile at home with family sitting down for lunch, killing girl and man
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east of Jabalya Refugee Camp
Military fires missile, killing 10-year-old on her way home
Fatalities during the fighting, 10 May 2021 - 21 May 2021:
232 Palestinians were killed by Israel, including 54 minors and 38 women.
137 of the Palestinians killed had not been taking part in the hostilities, 90 (including 1 minor) had been taking part in the hostilities, and for an additional 5, B’Tselem was unable to ascertain whether they had been taking part in the hostilities.
20 Palestinians, 7 of them minors, were killed by rockets fired by Palestinian organizations.
B’Tselem was unable to ascertain who killed another 8 Palestinians, 6 of them minors.
6 Israeli civilians and 3 foreign nationals were killed in Israel by rockets fired by Palestinian organizations.
1 member of the Israeli security forces was killed by an anti-tank missile fired by a Palestinian organization.