Despite the life-threatening risks from Israeli attacks, prolonged separation from their families, and lack of income, civil defense personnel in the Gaza Strip remain steadfast in their roles, doing their utmost to carry out rescue operations.

A civil defense command center located in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip has nothing but 30 fire and emergency medical personnel, one ambulance, and four fire engines.

The limited resources are responsible for providing emergency rescue services to hundreds of thousands of residents in central Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south.

"At least two-thirds of the airstrike sites are identified by us after hearing the explosions. We first drive to the nearby area and then rely on directions from local residents to gradually make our way to the exact location of the explosion, but mainly we depend on our hearing to reach to the area where the explosions are," said Ramzi Abu Zureiq, a staff from the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.

Disrupted communications and blocked roads are just the most common problems faced by local civil defense personnel.

According to statistics from the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip, since the outbreak of the conflict last year, they have carried out approximately 37,500 humanitarian rescue missions, equivalent to the total number of missions conducted over the previous 24 years.

The enormous workload and continuous Israeli attacks have severely weakened the rescue capabilities. So far, a total of 69 civil defense rescuers have been killed and over 250 others were injured in the attacks.

Approximately 80 percent of the civil defense department's equipment has been damaged and cannot be replenished.

Due to funding shortages, the staff at this civil defense center have not received any income for nearly five months. They live in temporary shelters near the office to keep up their work.

"After seven and a half months of continuous work, we have lost so much -- our homes, our loved ones, and far too many aspects of our lives. Here, our personnel have been targeted more than once. The Israeli military never distinguishes between caregivers, medical personnel, armed individuals, or civilians -- there's no distinction. Everyone here is at risk of being targeted. I also lost my older brother. He passed away on December 1 after three hours of bombing. I was driving the ambulance at that time towards the area where he was, but I didn't know if he was injured, so I wanted to go and make sure he was alright. I was shocked to discover that my brother and my two cousins were martyred," said Hassan Jabr, a staff member from the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine Telecommunications Company (Paltel Group) issued a statement on Saturday saying that due to the ongoing military operations by the Israeli army, the internet services in the northern Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, have been interrupted. The company is making efforts to restore the services.

In order to address the funding shortage, Italy would allocate 35 million euros, with 5 million euros earmarked for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The statement was made as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with visiting Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa on Saturday. Meloni said Italy would resume providing funding to the UNRWA, on the condition of strict monitoring of fund allocation.

During the meeting with Mustafa, Meloni also reiterated Italy's commitment to achieving a sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying that it is essential to restart the political process to achieve lasting peace based on the "two-state solution".

SHOTLIST:

Gaza Strip - May 23, 2024
1. Various of staff from Civil Defense Directorate answering phone call, getting on fire truck;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ramzi Abu Zureiq, rescuer, Civil Defense Directorate:
"At least two-thirds of the airstrike sites are identified by us after hearing the explosions. We first drive to the nearby area and then rely on directions from local residents to gradually make our way to the exact location of the explosion, but mainly we depend on our hearing to reach to the area where the explosions are.";
3. Various of Ramzi Abu Zureiq driving, others in fire truck, street view seen from fire truck;
4. Various of rescue workers preparing for operation, badge on vest reading "Civil Defense Directorate, fire and rescue", "Civil Defence" logos on fire truck;
5. Various of Hassan Jabr, rescuer from Civil Defense Directorate, treating child's wounds;
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Hassan Jabr, rescuer, Civil Defense Directorate (partially overlaid with shot 7):
"After seven and a half months of continuous work, we have lost so much -- our homes, our loved ones, and far too many aspects of our lives. Here, our personnel have been targeted more than once. The Israeli military never distinguishes between caregivers, medical personnel, armed individuals, or civilians -- there's no distinction. Everyone here is at risk of being targeted. I also lost my older brother. He passed away on December 1 after three hours of bombing. I was driving the ambulance at that time towards the area where he was, but I didn't know if he was injured, so I wanted to go and make sure he was alright. I was shocked to discover that my brother and my two cousins were martyred.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
7. Various of Hassan Jabr treating child's wounds;
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
8. Various of Hassan Jabr, others in ambulance; street view seen from ambulance;
9. Ambulance moving.

[Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]