‘It was terrifying’: Gazans describe the Israeli bombardment of their homes

Many civilians in the dangerous border area in the north of Gaza had no chance to find shelter before the shelling began

To the north of Gaza's Beit Lahia, before the border wall with Israel is reached, lies an area of agricultural land and villages that curls around the tip of the coastal strip. In times of conflict, its fields and scattered houses are a very dangerous place.

Close to one of the main entry points used for invading by Israeli forces, and vulnerable to bombs and artillery, it is also used as a line of defence by Gaza's militant fighters.