Southern Israel – At a desolate, shopping complex near the coastal city of Ashkelon, a solitary figure ambles through an empty car park.
It is eerie. All the shops are shuttered. Escalators and children’s rides are switched off. Swarms of flies feed off overflowing rubbish bins. Old food and plastic bags lie scattered across the tarmac.
The speaker system remains on and plays an endless loop of crackling elevator music – the gentle sound interrupted by the roar of aircraft overhead and several heavy thuds in the distance.
Several kilometres away lies the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been under intense Israeli bombardment for more than a week.
The impoverished enclave currently has no electricity. Fuel and water supplies are all but out. The medical system is on the brink of collapse.
Meanwhile, Israel has ordered 1.1 million people to leave the north of Gaza while it continues its air campaign.
Post from www.aljazeera.com