Audio report from Sami Abu Salem
22 Nov 2025
Mike Joseph introduces Sami’s report
Sami’s report from Gaza on day 44 reveals a ceasefire in name only. On this day alone, Saturday 22 Nov 2025, he has already noted 21 Palestinians killed in multiple Israeli strikes that took place without Palestinian provocation.
Listen to interview
Transcript
Hi, Mike. I’m talking to you from the market of Al Maghazi Refugee Camp, Central Gaza Strip. It is obvious that the Israelis are not happy with the ceasefire agreement, despite it is not fair for us. But from time to time, they violate it. For example, till now, till now, 21 Palestinian citizens have been killed in different Israeli strikes, air strikes or drones or artillery, I’m not sure, but 21, according to Palestine medical sources, have been killed across the Gaza Strip. Despite there was no violation from the Palestinian side.
Two days ago, 38 Palestinians, including a whole family, an entire family have been killed. According to the Israelis, they targeted one Hamas commander, but the 38 Palestinians have been killed in different air strikes. Not in one air strike. And Israel said that it was a retaliation of shooting from Palestinian militants in Rafah. But none of Palestinian factions said that they opened fire at Israeli soldiers. And we are questioning here, who opened fire at Israeli soldiers? None of the Palestinian factions. And we doubt that there is shooting at the Israelis themselves. We doubt about that. Especially the Israelis said no one was wounded.
Israeli troops are pushing. They push the yellow line. They push the yellow line to the western side. I mean, from East to West. I mean, they are making Gaza Strip narrower and narrower, more narrow than what it is agreed upon according to the ceasefire. So they are violating and violating, and it is obvious they are not happy with the ceasefire agreement. They need war. They need to resume war. They need escalation because they are the stronger. Because we are … I mean, we, I mean, Palestinians in Gaza because we cannot do anything. They prefer to play in the military field because they are the stronger. They do not prefer to play in the political field.
I’m talking from the market. I’m looking at banana, apple, vegetables, tomato, lemon, etc. Fruit and vegetables. But the market is full of caffeine products. Nescafe, and cafe, and coffee, and espresso, cappuccino, things like this, and lots of kinds of chocolate. Complimentary things are very obvious. When I walk or anybody walk in the street, he will see lots of stuff like this. That’s why we cannot claim that there is starvation. We cannot claim that there is starvation. But there is shortage of the essential ones, like chicken, meat and fish, plus egg, of course. There is real shortage, and each one kilogram, about $30 or $25 for each one. That’s why it is not available for ordinary people. We cannot claim that the Israelis do not allow food because they allow. But we can claim that there is shortage of food, plus shortage of medication, plus shortage of fuel. So war continues.
Till now we are buying wood. We are buying wood for cooking, for making whatever. From the early morning, we wake up to buy wood or to make tea or coffee or what, something like this, just wood. So we are living in the Middle Ages nowadays. But we cannot claim that the Israelis making starvation Because pictures are full of food. But in fact, when you go to details, yes, we have shortage, and war continues. Even gasoline and diesel and such stuff are not available.
Shortage of food and such stuff makes the essential food very expensive. For example, each egg, chicken egg, one single chicken egg is for one dollar, about one dollar. It’s very expensive for people in Gaza. And so on, chicken, meat, one kilo, about $20. So if a journalist said there is no meat in Gaza, the Israeli says, No, he’s a liar. We allowed meat. But each one kilo for $20. So who can buy? Except the elite. So killing continues, war continues, the siege continues, starvation continues, at least than before.
So, I believe that Israel is trying to flatten every path for peace and stability is very sad news. Exactly like their destruction of Oslo Accord.
[Sami coughs] There is a cough because lots of dust. Some people are burning garbage to get rid of bacteria. I do not know. It is very fatal smell and to get rid of mosquito and other insects. Anyway, I’m staying in a neighbourhood in Al Maghazi refugee camp, Central Gaza Strip. It is the same neighbourhood I stayed in the beginning of war when I have been displaced from north of Gaza.
I remember while I was here, I A house has been bombed. I was an eyewitness. It is about 20 to 30 meters only from me. I remember that when shrapnel scattered and pieces of wood and pieces of steels and cement around me and my daughter. We are survived just by a miracle. I rushed to the place and I evacuated casualties. I saw women, children. I myself, I carried a baby with diapers from the rubble. I remember that, that massacre.
I have just been informed that there is some family members are still under rubble and the family did not evacuate them till now because there is no enough heavy machines, especially bulldozers, and the bulldozers are in need for fuel, diesel. There is no enough diesel. There are some Egyptian bulldozers are working. Yes, a part of them are working for looking for Israeli dead hostages, yes. But the ordinary people, nobody paying enough care for them. The people who are under rubble, more than 10,000 missing people till now.
Those who live in Gaza face shortage, denial and deprivation of all necessities of life, and the daily threat of a violent death. Meanwhile 10,000 dead in Gaza lie buried under concrete, as there is no fuel to remove them from the rubble for a proper burial. This was Sami’s report from day 44 of the Gaza ceasefire.