Department of Research, Studies and International News  07-01-2025

Residents Recount the Devastation in Sheikh Radwan, Gaza City

In the early hours of the morning, tragedy struck Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district as an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential home while its occupants were asleep. The bombing, which occurred around 1 a.m., left devastation and grief in its wake. Ahmed Barakat, a local resident, shared his harrowing experience, describing the horrifying aftermath.

“The dead are scattered across the streets. We’re desperately trying to locate our loved ones amidst the chaos, but the absence of civil defense teams or ambulances makes it nearly impossible,” Barakat lamented. “I can’t find the words to describe the suffering we are enduring. The hardships seem endless.”

Another resident, Khalil Abed, painted a grim picture of the destruction. “The targeted home was completely reduced to rubble. We are still searching for our loved ones, using nothing but our hands because we lack proper equipment. The Israeli assault came without any warning,” he explained.

Rising Death Toll in Gaza

Since the escalation began on October 7, 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports a staggering toll: 45,885 Palestinians killed and 109,196 injured. In the past 24 hours alone, 31 people have lost their lives, underscoring the unrelenting nature of the conflict.

The Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, already destroyed in earlier strikes, faced renewed airstrikes in its vicinity. The Health Ministry confirmed that two additional hospitals in northern Gaza have been forced out of operation due to Israeli attacks, further crippling the already fragile healthcare system.

Local reports also indicate that Israeli tanks bombarded the southern Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. Although no casualties were immediately reported, the ongoing attacks continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis. A recent UN report highlighted that Israeli strikes on healthcare facilities have pushed Gaza’s medical system to the brink of collapse, depriving countless Palestinians of essential health services.

Funerals Amid Rubble and Grief

In the Bureij refugee camp, a somber funeral was held for three siblings—a brother and his two sisters—who were killed in overnight airstrikes. Their bodies were only retrieved late in the night by volunteers and family members digging through the debris.

Elsewhere, two individuals lost their lives in an Israeli drone strike on a residential flat in the Nuseirat refugee camp. In Gaza City, four more Palestinians were killed in a similar attack on a residential building, illustrating the relentless bombing campaign across the northern Gaza Strip.

The ongoing violence has severely hampered the work of international humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations. Despite being visibly marked as UN vehicles, aid convoys have been repeatedly attacked. Just yesterday, a World Food Programme truck came under fire, sustaining over a dozen bullet impacts. The UN relief chief has voiced grave concerns about Israel’s failure to ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel and convoys, which are essential for delivering aid to the besieged population.

The Sheikh Rawan neighborhood in northern Gaza City remains a scene of chaos as residents frantically search for survivors following another Israeli airstrike. Ibrahim al-Khalili reported that four Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in these latest attacks.

Using their bare hands, residents have been tirelessly sifting through the wreckage to rescue those trapped under the debris. “Many people are still missing beneath the rubble. Palestinians are doing whatever they can to save lives, but the situation is dire,” al-Khalili observed.

Adding to the despair, Israel’s military has reportedly targeted first responders, exacerbating the already catastrophic conditions. “The ongoing, indiscriminate attacks on civilians, often occurring at midnight without warning, have turned life in Gaza into an unending nightmare,” al-Khalili concluded.

The relentless airstrikes, mounting casualties, and deteriorating humanitarian conditions underscore the urgent need for international intervention to address the unfolding