Latest update: 21/01/2009 
- GAZA ASSAULT - Gaza Strip - hospital - Israel - Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Embedded with Gaza medics
FRANCE 24's correspondent in Gaza, Radjaa Abou Dagga, followed a team of Palestinian medics during the Israeli assault. The video is exclusive and contains images that some may find shocking.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
Radjaa ABOU DAGGA (video)

The conflict between Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip, and Israel has provoked reaction worldwide.

But the world has by and large watched the events unfold from a distance. Israel stopped foreign correspondents from entering the Gaza Strip while the conflict by air and on the ground intensified.

Our report brings you a view from the heart of the crisis, from the streets of Gaza, as our reporter witnessed the horrific effects of war on ordinary people.

This is not a geopolitical analysis of the Hamas-Israel war. It is a look from the inside at how, when movements, governments and ideologies do battle, it is mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children who are affected.

The eyewitness video made by a Palestinian journalist, Radjaa Abou Dagga, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Gaza, shows a slice of life in a war zone - how people desperately scramble to stay alive amid artillery shells, air raids and ground combat.

Comments (27)

Interesting reactions

It's interesting that the people defending Israel on this thread have not once addressed the issues of what they see. It would seem to be a theoretical debate for them, the fact that there are thousands of patently civilian victims is brushed aside in an attempt to turn the blame on Hamas.
Why, then, did the Israeli cabinet ignore a Hamas offer to extend the ceasefire to the West Bank on December 23? Is all this killing and destruction worth the meagre gains? The same question should be asked of Hamas. I never thought either side would be stupid enough to escalate what was largely a successful ceasefire. Leaders lie, Palestinians die. That's the way it has been for 40 years.

Enjoy your elections everyone.

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Thank you to the whole crew for your physical, mental and emotional courage in bringing the images that you have. Journalists like you guys are truly the few warriors of truth and justice left. Thank you for your honourable work.

Embedded with Gaza medics

All the prise to Radjaa Abou Dagga and his team for the daring coverage abd the same to France24 for making truth available to general public who are being kept uninformed about the REAL truth by the so called Mainline Media, which should now hind behind in utter shame. Israel wanted to take full advantage while Bush occupied the seat and stopped its misadventures just before inauguration of the new President of USA, Shame on Isreal and its Bushy supporters as well as the timid media, who should now take lead from France24 embedded reporting of the tragedy.

Israel and the Arab Palestinians

1)People have to learn the difference between land(s) e nations.Those who say the creation of Israel was a mistake,please,review your geography concepts. How about to learn more about the invention/creation of Iran,Syria,Iraq,and all other countries created after the two big wars (a couple of them in Europe).Those who really enjoy reading should go back a little and see how many coutries were created after the fall of some empires before the W W I.
2)Israel did not appear overnight. After the 1º World War the League of Nations had already decided that Great-Britain would rule the region for 30 years only and after that 2 states were going to be created.
3)The Arab Palestinians did not even have a leader.The Arabic nations did not accept a NON ARAB nation in the M.East.
4)They (the Arabs) chose war (see: 1948,1967 and 1973). Because they got defeated 3 times and in 1978 the Egiptians signed a peace agreement wiht Israel their next option was: Terror. Arafat became a famous figure because of terrorism.Arafat changed his mind, had some talks with the Israelis but died not that long ago.
6)Israel has to be recognized by all,otherwise how they will talk about borders,Jerusalem,etc?
7)Both territories that Israel got during the retaliation by the Israeli after the invasion of Israel by Arab nations in 1967 should be returned.If they did not want to talk at that time Israel should have kept its army in the territory,but the construction of settlements was a mistake.
7)Now it is not only a matter of returnig the West Bank and Gaza. Israel is a democracy and many of the points concerning this situatuion will be tackled by people who have very different views. So I hope the majority of people in Israel back those who belive in the 2 state solution. The other side has to decide if they also want the 2 state solution. In the past they did not.
8)Please, do not forget that the coin has TWO sides.
Thank you.

Gazza- Justice

I'm Palestinian born and living in Kuwait, from watching the news and how you can see the conflict in delivering the news to the viewer, I find it very difficult to believe that Palestinians are terrorists or what's happening because Hamas or other political sects. are fighting, I'm not saying this because I'm Palestinian, I'm saying because I'm a human, I don't think there is a reason for killing those children, women, old men, young boys, houses destruction. I know the feeling of being with no country cause I'm Palestinian living in other country that is not mine, I wouldn't wish this situation to others. I think Jews after what happened by Hitlor as the history states, they shouldn't do the same to the others, if they want a land, let them look for it in the countries that are supporting them....you can't build a country on blood and killing.....even if you get it, the history will always remind you of your crimes......I wish and I hope that this will stop so we can feel there is justice and logic of what's happening. countries that are supporting Israel needs to think twice that this can happen to them one day.....

SHAME

One more crime is that Israel have hired hundred of Israeli well trained bloggers in so many languages to blog every where ever they can for PRO ISRAEL, and they are expert in twisting the truth, Unfortunately, IT IS SHAME when every thing including people lives become a small part in abig Isreali game.

Israel is a terrorist state

It is run by a clique of fascist supremacists who will never let its neighbours live in peace.

France24 TV report in USA on Gaza 1/18/09

Thank God for France 24's inside report 1/18/09 on the humanitarian crisis inside Gaza. If not for France 24, Americans would be kept ignorant by our major TV stations. The first week of the war had massive coverage, followed by a complete blackout of news from Gaza by all major American TV stations over the last 2 weeks. Only a minute or two reporting on Gaza was presented with only Israeli spokesmen reporting their view of the conflict. There is an indisputable bias for Israel in America's News Networks reporting because they has consistantly censored spokesmen from the Red Cross, Amnesty Internat'l, UN personnel, doctors and Gaza civilians who dispute Israel's version of what happened. U.S. news media is complicit in Israel's censorship of the truth. The only place the truth is heard in on www.democracynow.org, a public financed radio program by Amy Goodman. This is part of Pacifica Radio Network (The Peace and Justice Station) aired in NY on 99.5FM at 9:00 AM. People interested in truth & jusstice should donate to Pacifica to keep it on the air!!

Radjaa Abou Dagga on Embedded with Gaza Medics

I wouldn't wish this horror on my worst enemy. Why is this being done to Muslims over and over again?
Here world's humanity, morality and justice are on trial.

SHAME ON HUMANITY

once again,those who love Israel are justifying thier act! and those who are on Hamas side,are justifying thier action.cant people just for once be HUMAN and admit that what Israel has done is ethnic cleansing?? I am an Arab and from Israel and I tell ya,you wont find sympathy to Hamas from almost anyone,not arabs/palestinians,NONE. but what Israel had done was agains anything human,not even the Nazis can be compared to that.Israel has played the card of being a victim to perfection. countries should tell Israel enough is enough.I have never been so ashamed that there are humans,or so they call themselves,and still blame others for making them kill the other peoples kids.just like that moronic quote by Golda Meir.take the bombing of the school.Israel kept lying about it until they said..it was a mistake!! they had bombed another three schools that belonged to the UN,i guess they had made another three mistakes.Hamas called the missiles they launch..resistance.that is stupidity not resistance. educate yourself,understand your enemy,talk to your enemy,reach for peace,resist with peaceful tactics,cleanup your act,show the world that you are "worth it",show your own people that you care about thier lives,show Israel that war wont solve the problem(Israel knows that,but they still feel joy in killing Palestinians),teach your kids to grow up and become a peacefull person,not a human bomb...that is resistance. again....SHAME ON HUMANITY.

AS A JEW I AM HORRIFIED AT THE NEW NAZIS

We are Jews, WE are not Zionists. These are zionists rascist and colonizers. They do not speak for us, we despise them and the horror they have reigned on innocent people. Watching this video made me so mad, I am sending it around the world, and to the prime minister of Israel. These are war crimes and war criminals. We cannot sit by and watch blindly. where is the United Nations, where are the christians. Corporate media in the US shows us nothing....all is censored by the zionist owned media. sick, disgusted and heart broken.

Excellent Reporting

Excellent piece of journalism, really shows the realities of life in Gaza.

To those who can still simply sit and blame this situation on the people on Gaza, I think perhaps you are in need of a history lesson. How can the oppressor claim self defense against the oppressed. Its Israel that has occupied Palestinian lands an forced the Palestinians into an open air prison with limited to no access to humanitarian aid.

Again, everyone here is missing the major point. Hamas chose war, by continuously rocketing Israel. Google "Abraham Twito", the boy is now a parapalegic - his legs were blown off by a kassam rocket. Or Kobi Mandell, stoned to death by terrorists at age 14 with his friend. Or why not try googling "Jpost Casualties of War" and really read the stories of INNOCENT civilians killed in terror attacks, targeted for just being Israeli. When the radical islamists decide to be content with their lot and pursue peace, Israel will be overjoyed. I was here in Israel in 1992-3 during the start of Oslo. Israeli's were jubilant, Palestinians were employed here - earning great salaries, providing for their families. Hamas AND Fatah ruined it all for them. That is their tragedy. They could have had a real, lasting peace - with Israel as a partner. They chose to make Israel an enemy. And let's not forget, if they finish Israel off - they are coming for you next.

Water and Electricity

Israel didn't cut of "their" water and electricity. Israel PROVIDES Gaza's water and electricity. Israeli tax dollars at work. Let me make a simpler analogy for you. After the Blitzkrieg, Poland decides to give Germany water and electricity free or better yet, after Pearl Harbor - a kind and generous USA donates diesel fuel to power the Japanese Navy. Hey guys, we know your our enemy, but surely after sinking our entire Pacific armada we'd like to give you a gift. Of course, Israel should be held to a different standard right? Let's provide the Hamas government with free power and water, hey -what's a few thousand missiles and suicide bombers anyway? Hey, maybe the USA can parachute foodstuffs and blankets into the Afghanistan/Pakistani mountain regions where Osama is hiding. We'd hate for him to be uncomfortable. The world's double standards are staggering. One teeny, tiny peace loving Jewish state - who brought the world so many life enhancing things and you just can't let them exist in peace, unmolested.

Blame game . . .

Sure, sure - everything is Israel's fault. Um, look at a map people. See how infintismal the Jewish state is (a state by the way where arabs have equal rights and sit in parliament). And ask yourselves, why can't a Jew live with the same rights in the PA or other arab countires? Why, because they would be slaughtered. Arabs want "Judenfrei" countries. Oh, and in case you forgot - Israel absorbed over 1,000,000 sephardic Jewish refugees driven out of their homes in arab countries with nothing. Not even a suitcase with personal belongings. Some of these Jewish communities in Yemen, Egypt, Libya and Iraq date back over 2500 years (predating Islam and Christianity). Ever stop to think about them? I'm sure not. Time to stop the blame game and let these war mongering Islamo-fascists understand that after 8000 rockets and missiles AFTER Oslo, Israel is here to stay. And for the genius who recommended we Jews relocate, why not check and see how many times Jerusalem in mentioned in the Bible versus the Koran? Thousands compared to zero. We've had a presence here forever and we aren't leaving anytime soon. You are worse than apologists, you are enablers. Wait til they come for you Europe (but you know its happening already).

war crimes

Isreal making a war crimes...they keeps saying that they are targeting gunmen, well in this video i can't see any gunmen...what about UN bulidings that being destroyed by isreali misslies....its simply a war crime...and thank you world for just watching kids dies

HOW LONG WILL YOU WATCH HUMANITY DIE

Enough is enough
Its high time that you do something to protest this AMERICA sponsored ISRAELI Genocide
BOYCOTT AMERICAN AND ISRAELI PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AS LONG AS THESE ATROCITIES ON GAZANS CONTINUE

shame on Israël

If Israel Had Not Blockaded Gaza and Had Not Cut off Power & Water, there won't be such demonstration of pain, anger and call for vengeance.
If Israel was fair enough to ensure and help to the creation of a Palestine country there won't be such kind of violence.
Remember that it's Israël who helped the Hamas movement to come in the Palestine seeing in its introduction a way to divide Fatah of Yasser Arafat. Indeed it does, but now they have to deal with fanatics at theirs borders.

AMBULANCE FIRED ON in video from inside gaza

Not a forensic scientist but couldn't help mnoticeing that the bullit hole seems to have come from INSIDE the ambulance!

Get real!

Again, everyone here is missing the major point. Hamas chose war, by continuously rocketing Israel. Google "Abraham Twito", the boy is now a parapalegic - his legs were blown off by a kassam rocket. Or Kobi Mandell, stoned to death by terrorists at age 14 with his friend. Or why not try googling "Jpost Casualties of War" and really read the stories of INNOCENT civilians killed in terror attacks, targeted for just being Israeli. When the radical islamists decide to be content with their lot and pursue peace, Israel will be overjoyed. I was here in Israel in 1992-3 during the start of Oslo. Israeli's were jubilant, Palestinians were employed here - earning great salaries, providing for their families. Hamas AND Fatah ruined it all for them. That is their tragedy. They could have had a real, lasting peace - with Israel as a partner. They chose to make Israel an enemy. And let's not forget, if they finish Israel off - they are coming for you next.

Thank you

To Radjaa, Thank you for going out and letting us all see the real situation. I am so upset by what is happening and what we the whole world is letting happen to people...be they Palestinian or Israeli this is just unacceptable....The Israelis say that Hamas militants are using the civilians to hide behind...therefore keeping them hostage...and so the Israeli army is happy to kill the hostages for a chance at killing a militant? Would they be so fierce if a gunman took Israeli civilians hostage??? Sending you so much thanks and strength. I can't imagine what you are living through.

GAZA

oh may Allah have mercy upon these poor inocent souls who lives are being taken away. The journalist Abu Daga is doing a mashallah great job of showing the world the true insight of what is really going on and the current situation is in Gaza. I'm sure it must be very difficult however he's doing well. show the truth! make the holacoust stop!!!

Video from embedded journalist

I am forwarding this to the US White House, President Bush. It cannot be said they were not aware. This deeply saddens me,along with feelings of anger and helplessness. As an American citizen, we were not asked to vote on the US's (horrific but true) involvement in this tragedy. There are many of us who try to get our government to listen and take non-militaristic action to end this. Thank you for making this available.

war on gaza

Just to say that it is about time to speak thruly about what really his the state of israel: A STOLEN LAND!: no one does anythink why? because they are jews? and then what? they are above the law?
Just look the map of palestian, and you will ubderstand! for the last 60 years they lost 80% of they land and now ther are the one asking to be reconise? this is a jok!!! ,here a real question :does really isreal should have been created ...? a specially in arabe region..why don't america move israel to california ..they love them so much..i completly understand the frustation of palestinian ,has israel has never respect any of they agreement.. and they want peace? The only way his to go back 1967 border at least and we may have some sort of peace
courage radjaa de tous coeur avec toi, ne faibli pas, you doing a great job..your are our eyes ..

Embedded w/ Gaza medics

Until today, I was pleasantly surprised by France 24's coverage of this 8 year old war with Gaza. That's right, 8 years of missiles and rocket and a cross border attack resulting in the capture of Gilad Shalit - unprovoked. Any idiot understands that if Israel opened up the border crossings (Hamas' pretext for war), there would be suicide bombers dispatched daily to kill Jews in Israel. Gazans chose Hamas in democratic elections. They chose war over peace. War is horrible - but Hamas goes out of its way to create martyrs for you, the press willing to give them a pass for putting their own at risk. Hamas fires rockets from homes, schools, hospitals, etc. Their "soldiers" are transported by ambulance AND UN vehicles (feel free to check those facts). As a new resident of the middle east and Israel, I've had enough. Like Netanyahu said, "Arabs put down their weapons, no more war - Israeli's put down their weapons, no more Israel." Would be quite convenient for you anti semitic people across the pond. But what am I talking about, you already surrendered your country to radical Islam years ago. Count your blessings the only rioted and burned cars versus bombing buses, and shooting over 8000 rockets into Israel. The only tragedy is that Israel waited 8 years to end this madness. I pray that we institute a new rule - after this cease fire fails, and it will until Hamas ends it's desire to destroy Israel, we institute immediate, overhwelming responses to ANY breach of our sovereignty. Hamas, you want to rule by the sword - get ready to die by the sword. Finally, I wonder how many Al Dura's there were killed by their own (at least 25 Fatah members were slaughtered by Hamas out the outset of Cast Lead). Oh, and how many "dead" Palestinians got up and walked away - as was proven over and over again in videos staged by their own press? The envelope please . . . . and the Oscar goes to Radja Abou Dagga.

Thank you for showing the world what it needs to see.

I cannot express my gratitude enough for this brave journalism. Now we understand why Israel prevents the media from entering Gaza. May you stay safe.

Great reporting

Radjaa is a very couragous man, keep up the good work, and let's hope he won't be murdered by Israel

medics in gaza

I've been following events in Palestine for years and have been very disappointed with coverage by a lot of tv channels. Of course there are exceptions and your reporting from Gaza has to be commended. The medics and journalists in Gaza are among the bravest having to endure the dispicable and cowardly attacks by israel. So good luck and all the best to your reporters in Gaza.

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