Gaza in pictures

[mawilson 2,133]

Residents of Gaza City are trapped inside their homes as Fatah and Hamas

gunmen vie for control of the streets.

Palestinians in Gaza City describe the security situation.

What's happening in Gaza may soon turn into a proper civil war unless it's stopped

immediately.

I work for the UNDP [united Nations Development Programme] in Gaza City, but we

have no working life right now. All the UN agencies have stopped and today I didn't go in.

Yesterday [Tuesday], we managed to go in but we were told to leave at 1pm.

I live with my wife and one-year-old child very close to the presidential area. I was

afraid for my family, so I took them to my father-in-law's house in a safer area.

I had to return to my local supermarket to buy milk for my child. The streets were totally

empty.

I had to go through three checkpoints; all of them manned by masked men so you

can't really tell who they are. They are most probably from the national security guard.

They check your ID see if you have a beard, ask where you're going and if you have guns.

This is the first time we've had clashes like this since the Mecca agreement [to create

a unity government] in February.

My wife is always trying to convince me to leave Gaza but even though the situation

is bad I somehow refuse to leave my country. If everyone like me leaves, only the

criminals will be left.

Heavily armed men are everywhere.

When I left university two days ago a gunman brandished his weapon in the face of

the passenger in the front of my taxi. We were all terrified.

Because of the security checkpoints, it took me much longer to reach college.

I study at the Islamic university in Gaza. There are reports that the campuses have

come under fire from gunmen.

Everyone is being terrorised - women, children and old people included. People are

under tremendous psychological stress.

Students are extremely worried that their courses will be suspended, like they were

two months ago.

This would affect our academic future and students are an integral part of society.

I am confined to my home. The streets are full of masked, armed men - some are

positioned on roof tops, it's too dangerous to go out.

Source