The teams in Gaza tell us about horrific bombings of an intensity they’ve never seen before, and nothing like the war in Gaza in summer 2014. Even people who’d seen it all before were seriously affected by the fighting and taken by surprise at the acute fear they felt. Their loved ones were their main concern, especially their kids, and needing to know if they were coping physically and emotionally.
Support networks were set up really fast, with lots of messages shared in private groups on social media. They exchanged photos of their families and said what they were doing to help their children get through the airstrikes. They supported each other.
Their conversations reveal a great deal of fear, especially of being killed in an airstrike in the night, but also mutual support. Do we all have food and water? Has everyone received a message about security in a particular neighborhood? The level of violence during the 11 days reminded them of previous conflicts, rekindling a profound sense of injustice and helplessness.