Adnan Elbursh (Image: BBC)
BBC Arabic reporter Adnan Elbursh’s reporting from Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital on late Thursday is one of the emotional news coverage the world will witness as Israel-Hamas war still escalating.
“Bodies lay everywhere. The injured scream for help. You can never forget the sounds,” Mr Elbursh reported.
Gaza residents Adnan Elbursh and his cameraman in the hospital came across number of people in severe condition due to the airstrikes from Israel. Some of them were known by the cameraman, Mahmud. “Among the dead and wounded, my cameraman, Mahmud, has seen his friend, Malik. Malik has managed to survive, but his family have not,” Mr Elbursh said.
“This is my local hospital. Inside are my friends, my neighbours. This is my community. Today has been one of the most difficult days in my career. I have seen things I can never unsee.”
Capturing a young girl”s footage at the hospital, Mr Elbrush said a young girl’ home was destroyed, her relatives were killed and she cries for help; “My daughter is of the same age,” he added. Another scene is shared where a mother sits near the bodies of her family. She says, “We were sleeping when they bombarded their house like everyone. We don’t have any resistance fighters in our building. All the building is full of residents – a hundred and twenty people lived there.”
Elbursh said the corridors of the hospital are filled with bodies, as the morgue reached capacity bodies were being placed outside the hospital entrance on the ground.
“You never want to become the story. Yet, in my city, I feel helpless as the dead were given no dignity and the injured are left in pain,” he said.
The militant group Hamas, launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, killing hundreds of people and taking number of hostages. In response, Israel declared war on Hamas. According to the reports of Palestinian health ministry, 1799 have been killed and more than 6400 wounded since Israel started to strike Gaza.
As the war enters the seventh day, it took over 2,800 lives on both sides already. Thousands more are wounded, and scores of people are held hostage.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 10 journalists — nine Palestinians and one Israeli — are among the dead. Several others are injured or missing.
