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"Our children spend the night shaking from the thundering sound of Israeli missiles and shells," says one father. (Reuters)
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GAZA CITY - "I wish the night never comes," says Heba, a young woman in the Gaza Strip.
"It's freighting."
Looking with wistful eyes at her younger brothers and sisters huddling together in one small room of their home, Heba says that ever since Israel unleashed its war machine against Gaza, nights have become a time to bid each other farewell.
"Every time we see Israeli missiles lightening the darkness, we start preparing ourselves for death."
Israeli occupation forces light the sky of Gaza every night with scores of missiles and tank shells.
"It's like there is a powerful fire monster attacking you, and there are no walls or fences to keep you safe," says Maha El-Sayyed.
"There is just no where to hide."
Like most people in Gaza, Maha has had to endure long sleepless nights since the beginning of the Israeli onslaught which has so far killed more than 765 people, a third of them children and women.
"Sometimes I think my heart beats are heard for a thousand miles."
Just like Maha, Om Hussam is haunted by the thundering sound of Israeli bombardment, which intensifies at night.
"My heart almost stops beating every time I hear the deafening sound of shelling. It's terrifying," says the Gazan mother, whose house lies right on the Gaza coast.
"I don't know what it is like to sleep anymore."
Panicked Children
Children are the most affected by the Israeli nighttime horror.
"As night falls, my kids start to scream in panic," says Om Hussam.
"I try desperately to calm them down but in vain."
Her seven-year-old son Hussam frantically refuses to leave her side once the night falls.
His tiny body shakes every time he hears an explosion or sees the flames of missiles lightening the dark sky.
"Don't leave me mom. Stay with me, please," he says with tears rolling down his innocent face.
Abu Mu`az is bleeding for his children who spend the long night trembling by his side.
"We spend the night trying to calm them. But sometimes the bombing is so strong that it leaves us petrified just like them."
Abu Samir Nakhala has come up with a novel idea to comfort his terrified four-year-old daughter, Rema.
He tells her that the massive sounds outside are just those of bursting balloons.
"But this must be a very big balloon, daddy," answers the child.
He laments that the Israeli war machine has taken away from his children even the comfort of sleeping in a chilly winter night.
"Children around the world spend winter nights warm and secure in their beds.
"Our children spend the night shaking from the thundering sound of Israeli missiles and shells."
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