Having been buried under rubble whilst
in bed at home, Saja Hammad is now in a
hospital bed with a broken hip and
shoulder and various cuts and bruises.
On last night's news at 10, we showed
her being rescued minutes after an
Israeli air strike brought her world
crashing down on top of her.
We asked the IDF why they destroyed the
house and they said they were targeting
a Hamas terrorist.
Saja, who we learned today is 22,
described her near death experience.
I suddenly woke up suffocated with no
oxygen. I thought the weather was
stuffy. I tried to go to the other room
but I couldn't get up. I realized the
house fell on me. I started shouting,
"Wake me up from this dream." I thought
I was dreaming.
>> ITV News's cameraman in Gaza filmed this
interview and yesterday's rescue during
which he tried to reassure Saja.
He advised her to concentrate on getting
out of there and helping the rescuers to
get her out. Minutes before this, Saja
thought that she was dead and buried.
I ran out of oxygen and said my final
prayers. I thought I wouldn't make it
out alive. There was a guy who saved me.
He took the rubble off my face and
washed my face and gave me water to
drink.
I was asking you about my family. I was
afraid to make it out and find them all
killed and I'll be the sole survivor of
the family. I was very afraid for them.
I asked you about them all and you
assured me and I felt relieved. My only
fear was losing my family and not from
dying. Thank God I was relieved when I
found them all alive and you assured me
they're well.
>> There have been yet more air strikes
today with the IDF focused on Gaza City,
which they say they are preparing to
conquer.
The strip's biggest city is Hamas's most
strategic asset. But the UN and many
European leaders fear the human cost of
taking it will be unacceptable.
The assault may also pose a threat to
the 20 remaining living hostages who are
probably being held under Gaza City.
John Irvine, ITV News, Tel Aviv.
Well, tonight the foreign office has
summoned Israel's ambassador to the UK
over Israeli government's plans to split
the occupied West Bank in two. The plans
have been condemned by the UK, many
others, as a flagrant breach of
international law. Caroline Lewis is
outside the Foreign Office for us this
evening. Caroline, first of all, explain
exactly what this plan is and why it's
been widely criticized.
Yeah. Well, this has come after a
growing number of countries, including
the UK, have said that they would
recognize a future Palestinian state.
Now, what Israel wants to do is build
3,000 homes that would split the
occupied West Bank from occupied East
Jerusalem. And what the Israeli
government has made very clear is that
this is designed to stop any future
Palestinian state being created. In
fact, announcing the plans yesterday,
the finance minister of Israel said the
Palestinian state is being erased from
the table, not with slogans, but with
actions. But creating a settlement like
this on occupied territory is against
international law and heavily condemned
by the UN. Now, the UK has joined 20
other countries and the EU to add their
voices to this condemnation after this
announcement, saying uh to condemn the
decision, saying the if implemented,
this would be a flagrant breach of
international law and would undermine a
future of a two-state solution.