Live from Gaza: updates as ‘humanitarian ceasefire’ fails
Channel 4 News Foreign Correspondent Jonathan Miller reports live from Gaza.
July 22 2014
‘Last night was hellish’ – read more from Jonathan Miller’s friend Adeem, trapped in the fire zone in Gaza, and follow his tweets below.
Joyous reunion with the incoming #c4news (un)guided missile AKA @jonsnowC4 who’ll be anchoring our programme live from #Gaza tonight at 7pm
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 22, 2014
#c4news #Gaza A uni prof who escaped Shajaiyah died here when 2x F16 missiles hit. More bodies inside. Smell of death pic.twitter.com/21IkXyqjvR
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 22, 2014
:: Channel 4 News journalists in the field report that a “humanitarian ceasefire” has not held out.
#c4news #Gaza The booms across Gaza City proof if you ever needed it that the “humanitarian” ceasefire is off
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 22, 2014
Vast black smoke plumes over #Gaza as we enter – inferno below. #c4news
— Jon Snow (@jonsnowC4) July 22, 2014
Twenty minutes in, further airstrikes confirm ceasefire not agreed. Confusing situation for #Gaza residents. #c4news
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 22, 2014
:: Israel reports that an IDF soldier is missing in the Gaza Strip, presumed dead.
July 21 2014
:: UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the US secretary of state John Kerry are heading to Cairo to try to end the Israel-Hamas fighting in Gaza which has killed at least 500 Palestinians and 20 Israelis and displaced tens of thousands of people.
:: Israeli tank shells have struck Al Aqsa hospital in the central Gaza Strip, killing four people and wounding 60, a Palestinian health official says.
:: The Israeli army has claimed it killed more than 10 Hamas militants who entered Israel via cross-border tunnels. The IDF has released the following video:
:: Overnight air strikes in southern Gaza have killed more than 30 members of two families in Khan Younis and Rafah, local officials say.
July 20 2014
:: Gaza saw its bloodiest day of the latest conflict as at least 87 Palestinians were killed, while the Israeli military says 13 of its soldiers died as its ground offensive got underway.
In Gaza, “we saw things that will forever be hard to unsee,” says Jonathan Miller.
:: Israeli spokesman: ‘we’re fighting a terrorist organisation’
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner tells Channel 4 News that Hamas is ultimately responsible for the deaths of civilians in Gaza.
:: Amateur video taken immediately after Israeli shelling of Gaza shows panicked people fleeing the Shejaia area and bodies littering the streets.
Reports suggest that at least 40 Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling of the neighbourhood.
The video footage shows distressed people fleeing the area and then, as the cameraman moves closer, the bodies of at least a dozen men, women and children are revealed lying at the sides of the streets.
Channel 4 News has edited the below footage so as not to show these bodies.
These stills have been taken from the footage and show some of the civilian casualties, including children, lying on the side of the road.
The casualties in the Shejaia district in northeast Gaza appeared to be the heaviest since Israel launched its offensive on the Palestinian territory on 8 July, after rocket strikes from Hamas militants intensified.
:: The head of the Cairo-based Arab League, Nabil el-Araby, described Israeli attacks on Gaza that killed at least 60 Palestinians on Sunday as a “war crime”.
The US Secretary of State John Kerry, however, believes Israel has a right to defend itself from rockets fired from Gaza and from attacks launched out of cross-border tunnels.
Professor Mads Gilbert, who is tending the wounded in Gaza, has written to Channel 4 News with an account of the Israeli shelling on Saturday night.
He writes: “The last night was extreme. The ‘ground invasion’ of Gaza resulted in scores and carloads with maimed, torn apart, bleeding, shivering, dying – all sorts of injured Palestinians, all ages, all civilians, all innocent.”
Click here to read his full account of the most deadly night in the latest conflict.
Since starting our operation in Gaza, we held our fire 3 times. Hamas never stopped shooting rockets. RETWEET. pic.twitter.com/0TpUqnlgmX
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 20, 2014
:: Fighting is reported to have resumed in the Gaza neighborhood of Shejaia, less than an hour after a “humanitarian truce” was agreed to allow the evacuation of wounded from the area.
Israel’s military said its forces were fired upon shortly after the truce began. Hamas has not commented.
#c4news #Gaza Shifa hospital morgue full. Terrible scenes of distress. pic.twitter.com/gQqweao2us
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
#c4news #Gaza hundreds and hundreds of people who've fled eastern suburbs have taken refuge at Shifa. No facilities pic.twitter.com/8Gymd4BhTL
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
:: An Israeli military spokesman said a two-hour humanitarian truce has been agreed in the neighborhood, due to end at 12:30 GMT.
The ceasefire was requested by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Shifa hospital; people are fleeing here as they have no where to go. Among last nights casualties was a paramedic. #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 20, 2014
#c4news #Gaza The Israeli shelling is too intense for us to get any closer and there is small arms fire which means Israelis engaging Hamas
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
#c4news #Gaza "We are not scared of the Israelis" these little girls said. Their father told me it was terrifying. pic.twitter.com/dWq1zVeQAW
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
#c4news #Gaza the suburbs of Shajaiyah, Sha'af and Zeitoun hit heavily all night as Israelis push in. pic.twitter.com/DVoo2gkT6W
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Thousands of people are streaming out of Shajaiyah and Sha'af on E outskirts of G City. We are heading there now.
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 20, 2014
July 19 2014
#c4news This London #Gaza protest pic greeted by joyous disbelief here. "It'll embarrass Arab countries" one man said pic.twitter.com/S3sSjzr1Bu
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 19, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Ambulances constantly arrive at Shifa hosp. @gershonbaskin – is nothing that can be done? Too much. pic.twitter.com/Vdu1veROgO
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 19, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Shaima, 4, and her Dad, Ibrahim. Her mum and brother and sister killed when evacuating Beit Hanoun. pic.twitter.com/chDLxjDCk2
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 19, 2014
https://twitter.com/millerC4/status/490444624390275072
July 18 2014
Follow the team’s tweets, videos and blogs throughout the day here or on Twitter @millerc4, @c4annalisa and @hirdstephen Warning: tweets shows images some people may find distressing.
Imam of al-Nasser mosque #Gaza City said “We will be better Muslims for the all the stress we are enduring.” #c4news pic.twitter.com/JQUQjkJOKQ
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
.@millerC4 with patient Aya Abdam who was evacuated from the El Wafa hospital before it was destroyed. #gaza #c4news pic.twitter.com/XaGUh4TvBP
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 18, 2014
Friday prayers about to start in Gaza. A local tells me ‘we will pray like they have never prayed before’ #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 18, 2014
Thuds sounding in the distance. There seemed to be a short respite during Friday prayers. #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 18, 2014
.@millerC4 at the Al-Nasser Mosque in Gaza City before Friday prayers. #c4news @C4annalisa pic.twitter.com/UwDlG8O0Lk
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 18, 2014
Aya told me that when Wafa was hit the power went out and her ward filled with dust and smoke. She was evacuated under fire. #Gaza #c4news
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news Aya Abdam, 16, who has spinal tumour and is paralysed + Ali Hassan, senior nurse from al-Wafa hospital #Gaza pic.twitter.com/qJESEmpiYf
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news There was definitely a respite in the Israeli bombardment during Friday prayers. Now it’s started up again with a vengeance #Gaza
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news Worshipers at Al-Nasser mosque, #Gaza City, were told “be patient”; the Prophet warned times would be hard pic.twitter.com/UwW5GorDJk
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news Imam’s sermon was political: “Victory will come to those who honour Allah” #Gaza pic.twitter.com/ln0bOivzwd
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
Mohammed Saleh and sons Abdel Hadi, 4, and Nasser, 5, in their Friday best. #Gaza #c4news pic.twitter.com/1TmESDt1zp
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
Ronaldo + Messi among worshipers at #Gaza City’s al-Nasser mosque. Huge turnout despite threat of airstrikes #c4news pic.twitter.com/RoYgZDCqKd
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
Faithful gather for Friday prayers, Al-Nasser Mosque, #Gaza City. There is a lot to pray for. #c4news pic.twitter.com/viNOue0rad
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news From what we have now gathered from talking to ppl in N, central and S #Gaza, the Israeli incursion is very limited. Airstrikes cont
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Wafa hospital stood on the eastern edge of the city. With 4 floors it offered a vantage point over Israeli positions
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news Ali Hassan told us on Wed that without Wafa, which specialises in brain + spinal injuries, 200 people in #Gaza would die every yr
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news Ali Hassan says #Gaza Wafa hosp evacuated late pm. Then it was hit by 15-20 rockets and shells. “It has been obliterated” he said
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news We have spoken to Ali Hassan, senior nurse we filmed with at #Gaza hospital on Wed. “My hospital has vanished” he said.
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
Patients from Al-Wafaa hospital transferred to clinic in Gaza City last night as it was being shelled. All are severely disabled.
— Sharif Kouddous (@sharifkouddous) July 18, 2014
#c4news #Gaza City spookily quiet this morning. Drones above + the occasional car. Making checks around Gaza on situation; will update
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
#c4news 42 airstrikes across #Gaza last night, 200 tank shells, 110 naval shells. Reportedly “a terrible night” in the south.
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 18, 2014
@hirdstephen: Morning from Gaza. #c4news @millerC4 @C4annalisa pic.twitter.com/xVDFOaEgmt
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 18, 2014
Artist Amir Schiby created this in tribute 2 Mohammed, Ahed, Zakaria and Mohammed Bakr. 4 boys killed on #Gaza beach pic.twitter.com/5QZuD5vs7Z
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) July 18, 2014
Spokesman for #Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Kidra, at Shifa Hospital, reports casualties from “toxic gas” east of Rafah in S #c4news — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
IDF understood to have entered #Gaza Strip on old settlement road severing it just north of Khan Younis. Also incursions in N + E. #c4news
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#c4news an AP photo of N #Gaza as Israeli ground invasion starts. Heavy onslaught now replaced by ominous quiet pic.twitter.com/ev5X8R5SHI
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
All we are evacuating our hotel as are all #gaza beach hotels. Warned of imminent amphibious landing. #c4news
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Israeli PM Netanyahu says in a statement he has instructed military to begin ground offensive in Gaza #c4news
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) July 17, 2014
#c4news a fearsome onslaught of Israeli missiles on #Gaza City tonight; pretty much non-stop, the booms punctuating the mosque-calls.
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Outgoing rocket fire lights up the sky above Gaza tonight amid sound and flashes of constant incoming. #c4news pic.twitter.com/c9M3YoFtjs
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 17, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Tighter shot showing shipping container in which boys were playing hide + seek and the beach pic.twitter.com/6J89K7NHan
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#c4news #Gaza the beach across which the boys fled after the first strike. 2nd killed them as they ran pic.twitter.com/Ru7rJYnEO6
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#c4news #Gaza interior of shipping container in which some of the boys were playing hide and seek. Struck by missile pic.twitter.com/9J6Nz5jJJt
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#c4news #Gaza Next to shipping container, another building destroyed in the strike pic.twitter.com/RFi0b1sZem
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#c4news Charred, mangled shipping container on harbour wall, hit by missile with 1 or more of the boys inside #Gaza pic.twitter.com/kV2qSwz70X
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
#Gaza Bank: civil servants empl by Hamas have not been paid for 9 mnths. Pal Auth in Ramallah pays PA ppl #c4news pic.twitter.com/t1gllvZ0vL
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Reports Israel has fired into southern Gaza. If true this is nearly 2 hours before the ceasefire is due to end. #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 17, 2014
Rush on the bank of Palestine as people try to get salaries and money. #c4news pic.twitter.com/HtI3zHfrtR
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 17, 2014
Total chaos at #Gaza Bank of Palestine as civil servants try to pick up salaries – but not if they’re Hamas #c4news pic.twitter.com/9cjLqerbVD
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
When I was in #Gaza in Feb this was the fish market. No fish on sale here now though. Can’t think why #c4news pic.twitter.com/KfUBy6CAak
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
OMG OMG #Gaza mangoes! In big demand in the market here while the ceasefire lasts. 5 shekels a kilo! pic.twitter.com/rpIELewjdl — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
It’s these #Gaza red chilli peppers that are the killers. Well, until this wonderful ceasefire ends #c4news pic.twitter.com/LHbofql9or — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Those famous #Gaza chillis in hot demand for breaking fast tonight. But will the ceasefire hold? #c4news pic.twitter.com/wysp3DPCLD — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Wow! The #Gaza City central market is buzzing. People taking advantage of 5-hr ceasefire to stock up #c4news pic.twitter.com/8SajZHt9Gf — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 17, 2014
Temporary ceasefire in Gaza, life returns to normal for a while, and for the #c4news team @millerC4 @C4annalisa pic.twitter.com/UPWHBSpufM
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 17, 2014
Caption competition @millerC4 pic.twitter.com/9T6F1iUFmu
— Stephen Hird (@hirdstephen) July 17, 2014
At the market, a little boy walked past me crying looking for his mum. He found her. A contrast from the crying children we saw yesterday.
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 17, 2014
AFP reporting 3 people in Gaza killed by an Israeli tank minutes before the temporary cease fire started.
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 17, 2014
We are holding our fire until 3 PM today in order to enable a humanitarian window in Gaza. If Hamas fires, we will respond with force.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
BREAKING: IDF forces thwarted an attack by Hamas terrorists attempting to infiltrate Israel via terror tunnel pic.twitter.com/ew0f7xbQw7
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 17, 2014
The Bakir family to which the boys belonged is famed for fishing – an extremely dangerous pursuit in #Gaza #c4news pic.twitter.com/6CVCiJmRUG
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Funeral cortège for 4 children killed by Israeli shell leaves mosque for burial just 2hrs after their deaths #c4news pic.twitter.com/B5CdN7SqKI — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
The four boys killed on #Gaza beach were between 8 and 10. They were cousins and had been playing football. #c4news pic.twitter.com/P9bMn99OqM — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
4 children killed by Israeli shell on #Gaza beach lie in the Abu Hassira Mosque. Imam distressed. Much anger #c4news pic.twitter.com/ZdcxKPocTL
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
1 child has shrapnel wounds to the chest. Strike thought to come from Israeli gunboat. #Gaza #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
I visited the MSF clinic in Gaza city this afternoon They have had to close due to the bombing. They provide vital care to burn victims.
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
Without access to the clinic patients cannot have dressings changes so are at serious risk of fatal infections. #MSFGAZA #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
2 loud bangs near our hotel, 2 children and their father injured whilst on the beach in front of the al-deira hotel. #Gaza #c4news
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
journalists carry wounded children out of al-Deira hotel pic.twitter.com/hbwKCkCXIe
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Child with bad shrapnel wound to chest. Very distressing. #Gaza #c4news pic.twitter.com/PF5F6DQd3R
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Children wounded by shrapnel treated by foreign journalists on terrace of al-Deira hotel #Gaza pic.twitter.com/G8jQBXmZHZ
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Three shells hit fishermen’s beach just next to hotels. At least 2 children wounded and their father. pic.twitter.com/aDpzFoij4y
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Here’s the IDF spokesman’s version of what happened at #Gaza Wafa hospital. Thanks @benabyad pic.twitter.com/j0D4Q8BMHS
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Incredible that IDF spksman says #Gaza Wafa Hospital “hit by shrapnel”. Patients testify it took direct hit #c4news pic.twitter.com/ZkA1bZFGdN
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
The home of #Gaza Hamas strongman Mahmoud Zahar, destroyed by 3 F-16 missiles at 0130am. No one killed. #c4news pic.twitter.com/YAc4eHchc7
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Wafa Rebab hosp, #Gaza City, hit 3x by Israeli rockets. Last nite IDF ordered evac. Patients now on grnd Flr #c4news pic.twitter.com/kblTsAdbgi
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
The hole punched through the wall of of Wafa hospital #Gaza last night. Israel border just 1/2 mile away. #c4newa pic.twitter.com/XeKFz4gdum
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
16 yr old Aya; spinal tumour, lower limb paralysis. Evac to grnd floor of #Gaza Wafa hosp b4 missile strike #c4news pic.twitter.com/g54XmNjIXo
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Parts of drone or Apache helicopter missile which hit #Gaza Wafa hospital at 0330 this morning #c4news pic.twitter.com/XqsbXolZgi
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
View from #Gaza Wafa hosp where missile hit; IDF tanks 1/2 mile away. Shelling every min + drone strikes too #c4news pic.twitter.com/4LZeOnbcEb
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Ali Hassan, of Wafa Hospital, #Gaza, with my friend and fixer, Khaled Abu Ghali. They trained as nurses together pic.twitter.com/HeqpkLsxCX
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
As I interviewed Ali Hassan of Wafa Hosp #Gaza a volley of 3 militant rockets was fired into Israel and 2 IDF tank shells exploded nearby
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Trail of smoke as rockets fired from Gaza. #c4news #gaza pic.twitter.com/Geckep8502
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
We’re at El Wafa hospital. Hit on Friday and last night. They specialise in rehabilitation of brain and spinal trauma pic.twitter.com/3VfaZgxhqq
— Anna-Lisa Fuglesang (@C4annalisa) July 16, 2014
We are heading to Wa’afa geriatric hospital east #Gaza City, specialising in stroke victims, quadriplegic care. Bombed last night #c4news
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 16, 2014
Graffiti, #Gaza City. pic.twitter.com/PK6hgpABdZ
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Israel striking #Gaza again: 9 wounded in N; strikes in Rafah in S. Drone strike close to where we were filming, Gaza City #c4news
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
People forced to flee to UN compounds in #Gaza say “This is not a life. We want to live in peace with the Jews. It cannot go on like this.”
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Fatiyah + daughter-in-law, Tahani, from N Gaza Strip, evac to UN safe compound. Forced to flee for 3rd time. #c4news pic.twitter.com/rDWyH8c9fM— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Hamas demo vs Palestinian govt minister visiting #Gaza: “go away collaborators.” Crowd armed w/ eggs + shoes #c4news pic.twitter.com/dmlYNMxFuM
— Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Some reports now saying the big bang in central Gaza City may have been outgoing. I saw no smoke trail though. V close to dense pop if true — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
IDF has said if Hamas fires at Israel “we will respond with force.” Reports on AFP news agency that 3 rockets have been fired into Israel — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Seems incredible Hamas claims it hasn’t been contacted. Must be dealing with H leader Khaled Meshal in exile. In #Gaza they know nothing — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
Hamas Spokesman says re Egyptian ceasefire proposal: “No one has even contacted us about this. We have been ignored.” — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014
The people of #Gaza will be so relieved to hear that Israel has “suspended” attacks. With Hamas rejection I suspect it won’t be for long — Jonathan Miller (@millerC4) July 15, 2014