KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 24 — In Gaza, there is no time to feel sad or mourn the death of family members, and seeking a way to save ourselves is like asking for death – so said Palestinian Minister of Culture Atef Abu Saif.
“This war has transformed our lives from normal to struggling to survive with the most basic necessities,” he told the Palestinian News and Information Agency (WAFA).
He stated that Palestinians have to wait in long lines for hours to get water, bread, and firewood.
He also shared the moment when his residence was destroyed by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip.
“The most painful is when we fail to rescue our loved ones from under the rubble of buildings,” he said.
Furthermore, he and other family members had to relocate even though the bodies of some of his family members were still not found after five days of search efforts.
Abu Saif mentioned that despite facing attacks from the Israeli regime’s military, he continues his responsibilities as a minister, including inspecting areas in hospitals and meeting with journalists.
He also revealed Israel’s actions in destroying landmarks in the Gaza Strip.
“Every time I return from the office, I have to find a new route because the usual road I take has been destroyed by Israeli gunfire. As a resident who has lived in this area for over 50 years, I still find it difficult to find my way home as the routes and road signs often change.
“For example, on the Hawja-Jaffa road, there was a residential area near the Jabalia refugee tents that vanished from the face of the earth, and all that’s visible are the refugee tents as far as the eye can see, while previously, the area was bustling with tall buildings,” he said.
According to WAFA, Abu Saif, who is now taking refuge in a camp in Rafah, said that the basic facilities in Rafah are also unable to accommodate the influx of refugees, numbering up to a million people.
“In this city, the food storage warehouses are limited, unlike Gaza City. In just a few days, food supplies have run out. There is no more flour to make bread. The prices of basic food have skyrocketed, and the currency has plummeted.
“During the war, we don’t have many options. Either we have to fight to survive or surrender and die. We are constantly thinking about what we will eat later and how to get it. Food is also insufficient. Some take the initiative to find firewood in the forest or from the (destroyed) houses around.
“I myself have started learning how to knead bread. But we still can’t protect ourselves from the biting cold at night, besides facing the difficulty of getting a glass of drinking water,” he said.
— Bernama
