Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

AP PHOTOS: Grief, devastation overwhelm region in second week of Israel-Hamas war

The Associated Press
Friday 20 October 2023 23:45 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A wounded Palestinian child, crying and clutching onto adults carrying him into a hospital. A deceased Israeli soldier's loved ones, their faces wracked with grief as they mourn. Dozens of small posters, each one picturing a missing Israeli, as another sign blares just one word, scribbled in bright red: “Pain.”

The images tell a story of unspeakable tragedy and palpable fear, as the war between Israel and Hamas prepares to enter its third week. The deadliest of the five Gaza wars, it has left more than 1,400 people in Israel dead, as well as more than 4,100 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The destruction is clear throughout Gaza, as Palestinians desperately search for survivors and are forced to walk through rubble left behind after Israeli bombardments. And anguish continues to ripple throughout Israel, as mothers bury their children, flags and flowers line even more graves, and couples become separated as one partner heads into combat.

Others, meanwhile, are trying to rush to safe harbor. A little girl, pacifier in mouth, is among many who on Friday had evacuated the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona, after three of its residents were injured by cross-border fire from militants in Lebanon.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in