Israel's deadly attack on tent camp confirms 'there is no safety' in Gaza, survivors say
CBC
WARNING: This story contains graphic details.
Families who survived a deadly Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in Rafah described a horrific scene of scorched tents and burning bodies on Sunday, as the attack brought further scrutiny to Israel's continued offensive in the city.
Witnesses said people were preparing for evening prayer when the strike hit the Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, where thousands had tried to find shelter after Israeli forces launched a ground offensive in the east of Rafah more than two weeks ago.
"We were sitting safely and suddenly we find bodies thrown on the ground, blood splattered on the ground — heads cut off, hands cut off.... We were screaming at each other," said Malak Filfel, 23, who said children were among those killed.
"This is not a life," Filfel said added. "There is no safety. We're not getting out. No matter where we go, we will die here."
The airstrike started a massive fire that quickly tore through thin tents and makeshift shelters. The health ministry in Gaza said 45 people were killed in the attack. By daylight Monday, the camp was filled with smoking tents, twisted metal and charred belongings. Women cried as men prayed over the bodies.
Some survivors said they had come to the camp because they followed a warning on Israeli leaflets, telling them to leave Rafah for the "humanitarian area."
"For your safety, the Israeli Defence Force is asking you to leave these areas immediately and to go to known shelters in Deir el Balah or the humanitarian area in Tel al-Sultan through Beach Road," read one leaflet translated from Arabic.
"Don't blame us after we warned you."
Defeated, Filfel described reading the white and red papers.
"They threw on us leaflets saying, 'Go to the south.' ... So when we came here to the south, they also massacred us," she said.
Abu Mohamed Abu Al-Sabaa, 67, said he chose Tel al-Sultan as his next refuge because it was supposed to be a humanitarian area. He said he looked out of his tent after hearing a loud noise Sunday to find flames "two metres high" before his neighbour's shelter collapsed, leaving him momentarily trapped.
"I hit the plastic [tent] with the power of God to open the way and the kids and everyone got out," he said.
"I got out and found bodies."
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