The 23 personal testimonies examine how the survivors are coping with their loss, trauma and disabilities a year after Operation Cast Lead. One testimony is released on each day of the Operation Cast Lead commemoration, 27 December 2009 to 18 January 2010.

The impacts of the aggression on the population of Gaza were devastating, as reported by Al Mezan in its statistics report “Cast Lead in Numbers” and also by the UN Fact-Finding Mission (Goldstone Mission). The centre has gathered different kind of documentation as well as materials by other human rights and humanitarian organizations at their web site.

“As a human rights organisation working here on the ground, we are forced to focus our energies on investigating and documenting the serious human rights violations perpetrated daily in the Gaza Strip,” says Issam Younis, Al Mezan’s director.

“As a result, we are sometimes unable to find the time to remind people why upholding human rights is so important. The pain, anguish and misery of the survivors persist for years or even decades after the bombs have fallen. Through releasing this series of personal testimonies we hope to show the world that life in Gaza is not back to normal; for many, it will never be back to normal.”

The Al Mezan centre calls for the international community to end its silence and inaction and take steps to bring the inhuman situation in Gaza to an end without any further delay. The series of personal testimonies among other documentation is a reminder that victims of human rights and International Humanitarian Law violations in Gaza have full rights to justice and reparation, which cannot be achieved without ensuring accountability of those who violated their rights.

Go to the “Lives Destroyed” Homepage

- Series of Personal Testimonies, Reveal How One Year after Operation Cast Lead, Life in Gaza is Not Back to Normal

Day 10: The As-Sammouni Family, Az-Zeitoun Neighbourhood, Gaza City

Day 9: Playing on the Roof, At-Tuffah, Gaza City

Day 8: Left under the Rubble in Jabalia, North Gaza

Day 7: Marble Season in Al-Qarara town, Khan Younis

Day 6: New Years Day in the Gaza Strip

Day 5: The Targeting of Medical Teams

Day 4: The Hamdan Family, Beit Hanoun in North Gaza

Day 3: Yebna Refugee Camp, Rafah

Day 2: The Kishku Family, Az-Zeitoun in Gaza City

Day 1: 96 Widows and 245 Orphans

Interviews with the persons detailed in these testimonies can be arranged by Al Mezan.

Written by Heidi K. Tokle