Civilians suffer on both sides of the Israel/Hamas divide

As the Israeli bombardment of Gaza intensifies people are doing whatever they can to escape the violence. In one of the most densely populated areas on the planet that is easier said than done. One woman fleeing with her family has no idea where to go: “Since the shelling started our neighbours have left. I am not sure where we are going to go. As a last resort I will go to my brothers house, but he has three members of the family staying with him in his small apartment. I don’t know where to go. I am waiting for the school to open maybe we can go there and shelter.” In Gaza there is resignation that things are likely to get a lot worse before they get better. In Ashkelon, southern Israel, residents are becoming used to the screaming sirens as another rocket from Gaza enters Israeli airspace. A Franco/Israeli woman who has been living in the country for six-years describes her feeling as more violence breaks out in the region: “We mustn’t be afraid, we mustn’t panic. I think we have to stay calm in order to cope with the situation and not to make oneself sick with worry.” For Israelis in the south a brief trip out to stock up on essentials is all they allow themselves.