'All signs of life have vanished': Palestinians describe indiscriminate destruction by Israel's new war on Gaza

Without any warning, thousands of Palestinian families in the coastal enclave of the Gaza Strip became homeless, without any chance to return to their normal lives any time soon. 

In the past few days, Israel has effectively wiped out at least three neighbourhoods in perhaps one of the most violent attacks on the besieged strip. 

On Monday afternoon, 9 October, the residents of the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood in the western part of Gaza were informed by the local civil defenders to immediately evacuate their apartments as the Israeli occupation army wanted to attack the location. 

Maria al-Hato, rushing with her five-member family to evacuate their five-floor residential building, experienced one of the most dangerous journeys in her life. "Initially, I thought that only our building would be evacuated (...) When I reached the street, I saw hundreds of people around. I asked what was happening but no one answered me," the 22-year-old remarked to The New Arab. 

Hato noted that she and her family escaped to their relatives' house, spending a few hours only, but later they left it as the army attacked the area too. 

"Once again, we are homeless and defenceless. We are a people who do not have any hope to live in stability in Gaza," the young lady said to TNA, her voice cracking with emotion.  

Tal al-Hawa and al-Rimal neighbourhoods were among the most beautiful areas, filled with high-rise buildings and residential towers as well as several shops. Now, there is just  widespread destruction everywhere. All signs of life have disappeared under their rubble, and the streets are pregnant with the smell of death and oppression.

Mohammed al-Shawa, a 67-year-old from the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood, was sitting on a small pile of rubble, smoking his cigarette, and contemplating his burning house. 

Suddenly, the elderly man broke out into tears as he recalls the worst night of his life. "I was at my house when the army attacked our area. I did not think that they could attack our buildings. My family and I stayed for two hours under the heavy attacks. We did not know what is happening out, but we prayed to stay alive," he said as he looked at what remained of him home that still burns in front of him.

Al-Shawa and his six-member family were stuck under the Israeli attacks until the Palestinian civil defence teams evacuated them to the nearest hospital in their area. 

"Even though we spent our night in the hospital we thought we would die soon," he said, adding, "What shocked me most was seeing my house, destroyed and burned." 

Maria and al-Shawa were among dozens of thousands of Palestinians who became homeless because of the Israeli "aggression" against the civilians in the coastal enclave.

More than 363,000 people were displaced from their homes as a result of the continuing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip for the fifth day in a row, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The OCHA office said in a press statement that approximately 175,000 displaced people took refuge in 88 schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and more than 14,000 others took refuge in 12 government schools.

Six days ago, the Israeli occupation announced a state of war against Gaza, right after Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive at Israel, launching thousands of rockets from Gaza at Israel while hundreds of its militants infiltrated the Israeli cities adjecent to Gaza. 

More than 1,200 Israelis were killed by Hamas militants, and over 3,000 Israelis were wounded. Meanwhile, over 200 Israelis, including soldiers and other foreigners, were captured by Hamas and held in Gaza. 

In turn, more than 1,200 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed by the Israeli army, while more than 5,000 others wounded, according to the Gaza health ministry.