View from my friend’s window of the building destroyed next door in the early hours of the morning. July 16.

Gaza, July 16, Day 9 of the attack

3:15am
Successive very strong explosions by F16 and helicopters and warships against Gaza City, mainly to the west. It is so loud. Artillery shelling to the east of the city too. And I'm told Rafah is also under heavy shelling.

View from my friend’s window of the building destroyed next door in the early hours of the morning. July 16.

Gaza, July 16, Day 9 of the attack

3:15am
Successive very strong explosions by F16 and helicopters and warships against Gaza City, mainly to the west. It is so loud. Artillery shelling to the east of the city too. And I'm told Rafah is also under heavy shelling.

5am
The shelling has been continuous. Warships firing too. They are ugly and horrible carrying death and destruction.

The Israeli Occupation Army started sending random recorded messages asking families to leave their homes. These false alarms are another way of intimidating us. Many of us received those messages this morning.

I need to sleep but I can't. Who could?

6am
No place is safe. The house next to where I am staying tonight was leveled to the ground with just 5 minutes notice. From the window, I can see the horror on the people's faces on their way down. The smell of smoke is sickening. And crying children raise their voices just as the sun is rising… This is Gaza. No shelters. No safety.

8am
It is a new day. Day 9 or 10 of the attack. It doesn't matter to us in Gaza.

Thank you so much to all of you who sent nice photos and drawings for Palestinian children. Thanks for your comforting messages. It makes a difference for us. Thanks for your political solidarity as well as practical solidarity by donating to MECA so we can buy medications and milk and food for children and hospitals.