Sarah Ayoub was baking bread. She was putting a loaf into a clay oven when she heard the explosions.
That was on June 5, 1967, the day Israel declared war against Egypt.
As Israel’s tanks drew closer, Sarah grew increasingly worried about Munther, her husband. He had gone out to work, transporting goods along with a merchant.
After an hour passed, he made it back to their home in Beach refugee camp, part of Gaza City.
The bombs continued that night. Sarah, then aged 24, heard much crying and screaming from neighbours. When she woke the following morning, “Israeli soldiers were spread everywhere and lots of the camp’s houses were destroyed”, she said.
One day later, the Israeli troops started raiding the homes of people in Gaza, until then administered by Egypt. Many men and boys were arrested.
Munther was among those rounded up. An elderly uncle of Sarah’s was arrested, too; he fainted after being treated roughly.
The June 1967 war lasted six days. By the time it ended, Israel had occupied the West Bank, Gaza, Egypt’s Sinai peninsula and Syria’s Golan Heights.
Read the full article by Hamza Abu Eltarabesh at Green Left Weekly.