Israel violates ceasefire, freed Palestinian prisoners bear torture marks, with Nora Barrow-Friedman

A ceasefire, brokered by the US, went into effect after two years of conflict in Gaza. While some celebrated this as a liberation and a moment of relief, with people returning to their homes, the reality on the ground was starkly different. Bombings continued, causing casualties, and the city faced severe shortages of food, water, and essential supplies due to widespread destruction.

Despite the fragile ceasefire, a journalist documented the immense devastation, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble and life struggling to return. Another report highlighted the use of explosive vehicles by Israeli forces, causing widespread damage. The exchange of captives also took place, with freed Palestinians detailing severe torture and abuse.

The situation underscored a continued humanitarian crisis, with limited aid entering Gaza and concerns about famine. The dismantling of aid centers and revelations about past violence at these sites, coupled with restricted media access during aid flights, raised further questions about the sincerity of international efforts.

• A US-brokered ceasefire took effect after two years and three days of conflict.
• Thousands of Palestinians returned to their homes in Gaza City and the north.
• Despite the ceasefire, bombings continued, killing at least six people on October 9th.
• Water scarcity is severe, with over 75% of water wells destroyed, leaving people with less than 25% of their daily needs.
• At least 23 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire began.

Ceasefire and Return of Displaced [00:00]

• A US-brokered ceasefire went into effect on October 10th, following two years and three days of conflict.
• Journalist Aiman al-Hesi documented thousands of Palestinians returning to their homes in Gaza City and the north, many having been forcibly displaced.
• Civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Basal expressed joy, stating, "This is the moment we've been waiting for for two years."
• An older man commented on the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
• Another man emphasized Gaza's resistance and symbol of patience, vowing not to leave.

This section reports on the initial announcement and perceived hope of a ceasefire, with people returning to their homes and expressing resilience.

"This is the moment we've been waiting for for two years. Two years of our people being exterminated, two years of our people being murdered. Today, Gaza is liberated from this occupation. Today, a ceasefire is declared. Congratulations to our people. Congratulations to every child in Gaza."

Continued Bombings and Suffering [02:22]

• On the night of October 9th, hours after celebrations, Israeli forces bombed a building in Gaza City, killing at least six and wounding many.
• Reporter Sahed Hazbalah documented civil defense crews trying to reach the dead and wounded.
• The spokesperson for the Gaza municipality stated there was no ceasefire yet, with more than five explosions in the past 20 minutes.
• He described ongoing suffering from bombardment, food insecurity, water scarcity, and massive destruction of infrastructure.
• More than 75% of water wells in Gaza have been destroyed, leading to people receiving less than 25% of their daily water needs.

This part details how, despite the ceasefire announcement, violence persisted, leading to casualties and underscoring the dire humanitarian conditions, including severe water scarcity.

"Um to be honest, um there is no ceasefire uh yet in in this city. Um there in in the past 20 minutes there were uh more than five explosions. Uh that's I counted myself by I'm sure there is uh other uh explosions uh in another neighborhoods."

Devastation and Return to Ruined Cities [04:34]

• On October 10th, as the ceasefire was implemented, Palestinians continued to return to the north.
• Journalist Abdul Kadar Sabah filmed footage showing people returning by various means, noting the difficult-to-explain level of destruction in areas like She Radwan and Talhawa.
• Journalist Bisan Auda documented the wreckage in the Zetun neighborhood, showing an "explosive vehicle" or "robot explosive" used by Israelis to cause widespread damage.
• These vehicles, previously for carrying soldiers, were used to carry explosives and placed in neighborhoods, destroying everything within a 200-meter radius.

This section focuses on the immediate aftermath of the ceasefire, highlighting the extensive destruction of cities and infrastructure, and the methods used to cause it.

"People are returning to Gaza City any way they can, on foot, by motorized rickshaw, by truck. But the level of destruction is difficult to explain."

Prisoner Exchanges and Testimonies of Torture [06:19]

• Palestinian resistance factions handed over all living Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross and prepared to transfer the bodies of dead Israeli captives.
• Israel began releasing living Palestinian hostages from prisons and detention camps, who returned with severe health crises and testified to torture, sexual assault, and humiliation.
• Photojournalist Shadi Abuido, kidnapped during a raid, spoke of 20 months of torture, starvation, being hung naked, and insults, with claims that their children were killed and Gaza was gone.
• Another freed hostage, Mahmud Abu Fool, recounted brutal beatings and torture, losing his ability to see due to severe head injuries during interrogations.
• During a siege on Kamal Adwan Hospital, many, including the hospital's director, were kidnapped, with the director's detention being arbitrarily extended for six more months without charges.

This part details the prisoner exchanges and includes harrowing testimonies from freed Palestinians about the torture and abuse they endured in Israeli detention.

"For two years, I was starved. I went in starving and came out starving. They hung our bodies day and night, naked, abused, and insulted us. They told us, 'We killed your children. Gaza is gone.'"

Continued Attacks and Casualties Since Ceasefire [10:31]

• Israel's attacks on Palestinians continued despite the ceasefire.
• On Tuesday, October 14th, at least nine Palestinians were killed, including five in the Shujaya neighborhood.
• Palestinians were injured by Israeli fire in Jibalia.
• Israeli army attacks in Kyunas killed at least one Palestinian and injured another.
• Three Palestinians were killed on Wednesday, and four on Thursday, bringing the total killed by Israel since the ceasefire began to at least 23.

This section reports on ongoing Israeli attacks and the resulting casualties that occurred even after the ceasefire was in effect.

"Since the ceasefire began to at least 23."

Death of Journalist Salah Al Jafarawi and Other Media Workers [11:19]

• Journalist Salah Al Jafarawi, who had celebrated the truce and vowed to continue coverage, was killed on Sunday, October 12th.
• He was reportedly killed by armed gangs collaborating with Israel while documenting the early days of the ceasefire and the extent of destruction.
• Al Jafarawi had been hunted by Israel during the conflict and had lost many friends and colleagues.
• His brother, Naji, released from detention in Israel, spoke of torture and being comforted by Salah's friends.
• Salah was the 255th reporter and media worker killed in Gaza since October 2023.

This part highlights the tragic death of a journalist and the broader toll on media workers, emphasizing the dangers they face while reporting on the conflict.

"You are all our brothers after Salah. May may we be able to fill his shoes for you. Salah has fulfilled what he has presented."

Restricted Humanitarian Aid and Famine Risk [14:35]

• As of Wednesday, Israeli forces continued to restrict humanitarian aid, including food and basic supplies, into Gaza, violating the ceasefire terms.
• Only a trickle of aid was reaching Gaza, with only 12 World Food Program trucks entering central areas, far below the mandated 600 trucks daily.
• The risk of famine and malnutrition remains present due to limited quantities of goods, representing a fraction of actual needs.
• Israel's deliberate imposition of a severe food and supply deficit is described as a tool of genocide.
• Only 173 aid trucks had been permitted entry since the ceasefire began, with limited fuel, cooking gas, food, and medical items.
• No aid trucks entered on Monday or Tuesday due to pretexts of releasing detainees and Jewish holidays, violating the ceasefire.

This section details the ongoing restrictions on humanitarian aid, the severe risk of famine, and accusations that Israel is using starvation as a tool of genocide.

"The risk of famine and malnutrition and their devastating consequences remains present in the Gaza Strip despite the entry into force of the ceasefire agreement."

Dismantling of Aid Sites and Violence Against Aid Seekers [17:20]

• Sites used by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, described as "US-Israeli private killing fields," were dismantled.
• Remnants of Israeli military munitions, including sound grenades and bullets, were found at one site, used to attack Palestinians seeking aid.
• Over 2,600 Palestinians were killed and over 19,000 wounded near these aid centers.
• The mechanism drew criticism for being humiliating, and responsibility for delivering supplies shifted to the United Nations.

This part discusses the controversial nature of previous aid distribution sites and the violence that occurred there, leading to their eventual dismantling and a shift in aid delivery responsibility.

"We can see right now a the remnants of sound grenades and few pulips that have been used to shoot people who were trying to reach the side to getting aid."

Media Coverage of Aid Flights and Restrictions [19:42]

• An anonymous writer described observing aid flights over Gaza from the open hatch of a Jordanian aid plane.
• The view from above showed a disfigured cityscape with entire neighborhoods wiped out and reduced to gray by bombardment.
• Journalists were instructed not to film Gaza or its devastation, but only the aid packages and soldiers, with military media officers combing through images.
• The writer questioned the sincerity of governments arming Israel while posturing sympathy, calling airdrops attempts to "cleanse blood stained hands" and "theater."

This section critiques the staged nature of aid flights and the media restrictions imposed, suggesting that these operations are more about optics than genuine humanitarian relief for a devastated Gaza.

"Once again, the Palestinian voice was erased mid-flight. And of course, most journalists and outlets don't care. So long as the footage is exclusive and can be sold, nothing else matters."

Expressions of Joy, Determination, and Resilience [24:41]

• A freed Palestinian hostage was shown being carried by his community, singing and dancing.
• Music teacher Ahmed Muin Abu A and colleagues performed a song about a child and a plane, a symbol of joy and innocence betrayed by destruction.
• The performance aimed to remind the world that childhood deserves peace, amidst displaced children in Gaza's camps.

This concluding section highlights moments of joy, determination, and resilience from Palestinians in Gaza, despite the ongoing crisis.

"We sing the child on the plane by Marcel Khalifa with the displaced children in Gaza's camps to remind the world that childhood deserves peace."