Fear has once again engulfed the residents of Gaza. What began as a typical night during Ramadan, with families enjoying their pre-dawn meal, quickly turned into chaos after 50 nights of relative peace. The sudden eruption of gunfire and explosions shattered the calm, accompanied by the screams of terrified people.
Essam Abu Odeh and his family were jolted awake by the thunderous sounds of shelling in the early hours. "Around 2 a.m., we were startled by the heavy bombardment," he recounted. His daughter alerted him to the danger, prompting them to huddle against the walls to avoid falling debris.
Israeli aircraft launched a series of attacks from the north, targeting Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. The assault on Monday night claimed the lives of over 400 individuals, predominantly women and children, according to local health officials. The number of combatants killed remains unspecified, though Israel claims it targeted Hamas leaders. More than 600 people were injured, overwhelming hospitals with a surge of casualties, many of whom were children.
The BBC spoke with the family of Ahmad Mo'in al-Jumla, who was injured at the Beach refugee camp. His sister described the chaos and uncertainty as they searched for him amidst the devastation. "We couldn't find him until morning," she said, "the entire building had collapsed."
Ahmad was eventually rescued from the rubble with serious injuries, including fractures and a brain injury. His family also faced their own ordeal when their home was hit. "The house crumbled around us," his sister recalled. "We tried to escape, but there was nowhere to go."
Another resident, M., described the abrupt resumption of hostilities as he prepared for Suhoor. "Fear spread throughout the area," he said. "Everyone was terrified, unsure of where to turn."
The airstrikes continued into the morning, ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Hamas failed to release hostages or agree to extend the ceasefire. The fragile peace that had lasted since late January was shattered, leaving Gaza's residents blindsided.
Hael, from Jabalia al-Balad, expressed his exhaustion with the ongoing conflict. "We weren't surprised by the truce's collapse, but the shock is immense," he said. "We've endured enough."
Before the ceasefire, the conflict had raged for 15 months, resulting in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths. Umm Mohammed Abou Aisha, who survived with her mother during that time, lost her mother in the latest strikes. "She woke up to prepare Suhoor, not for war," she lamented.
Residents question the validity of the supposed peace, citing continuous strikes and snipers. Mohammed Bdeir, who lost his daughter in the bombing, recounted the horror of finding her beneath the rubble.
Ramez Alammarin, a young man from southeast Gaza City, described the chaos as he helped transport injured children to the hospital. "The fire of hell was unleashed on Gaza again," he said, noting the severe injuries and lack of medical care.
Hospital officials report a dire shortage of medical supplies and staff, with many patients suffering from severe injuries. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout highlighted the inadequate resources, while Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya described the situation as catastrophic.
The most admissions have been at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where families gather for funerals. Essam, who was awakened by his daughter, pleads for an end to the violence. "We want peace so we can live without fear," he said.