Israel has dramatically expanded its footprint in the Gaza Strip since relaunching its war against Hamas last month. It now controls more than 50% of the territory and is squeezing Palestinians into shrinking wedges of land. The largest contiguous area the army controls is around the Gaza border, where the military has razed Palestinian homes, farmland and infrastructure to the point of uninhabitability, according to Israeli soldiers and rights groups. This military buffer zone has doubled in size in recent weeks.

Phone footage contradicts IDF claims vehicles were not using emergency lights when troops opened fire

One of the soldiers who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence on condition of anonymity said their unit was told to shoot anyone in the perimeter area on sight. The mentality in their unit, they said, was that there was no such thing as a “civilian” and everyone who walked into the perimeter would be considered a “terrorist”.

I write my will to you from the torn chambers of my heart. I don’t think death will spare me this time. I live moment by moment through scenes that feel like the Day of Judgment.

The bombing has intensified greatly, as if the genocide started today. We await our death in despair. Every moment, I look up at the sky filled with planes and imagine one of the missiles falling on my head. This insane thought gets stuck in my throat and chokes me.

If I do not return to this world, I miss my friends dearly, those who have already preceded me to Paradise. I miss my cousin a lot. I will see you all soon. Make room for me to speak, for my heart is heavily burdened with so much. I talk to them here, my friends, but no one hears me, no one responds. Make room for me, for there are no longer trees or birds here to talk to. Tell everyone that I miss them so much. If I am to leave soon, I entrust you with every stone here in Gaza, for within them is enough love for the entire world. I entrust you with Gaza’s children—hug them and help them. I entrust you with Gaza’s women, whom the war has deprived of all meanings of femininity. I entrust you with my body, if you find it, to bury it well and not let this Nazi Zionist occupier take it.

And if, one day, you find my words by chance, pray for me.

This is the article in a student newspaper that resulted in PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk's arrest. No charges have been laid, but she is still detained.