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Humanitarian witness says Gaza remains violent despite ceasefire
Summary
A humanitarian witness told an audience that colleagues cannot leave Gaza and that violence continues ‘‘despite the ceasefire of last October,’’ reporting bombs and daily gunfire based on a recent field visit and decades of aid experience.
A witness who described decades of humanitarian work said they were speaking on behalf of colleagues who remain in Gaza and cannot leave. "Never forget that our national colleagues cannot leave Gaza," the witness said. "So the fact that I'm here talking on their behalf and that they will hear and see through your outlets what we are reporting is very, very important."
The witness, who said they have worked in humanitarian contexts for 30 years and began with Medecins Sans Frontieres, recounted a visit to Gaza earlier that month, calling the scenes there overwhelmingly distressing. "I was in Gaza earlier this month, only my second, my second time, and it's just there are no words," the witness said.
Framing the account, the witness listed Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem as areas of concern and said conditions remain dire. "Despite the ceasefire of last October, there is perhaps less fire, but the violence continues," the witness said, adding, "We hear bombs nearby. There is gunfire every day."
The testimony combined the speaker's recent observations with career experience — including work in Grozny and time based in Mogadishu — to emphasize the continuing humanitarian risks to civilians and aid personnel. The witness said the purpose of speaking was to ensure international audiences hear reports from those who cannot leave.
No formal actions, motions or policy decisions were recorded in the testimony; the remarks served as a firsthand account highlighting ongoing insecurity and the humanitarian implications of continued violence.
