When a Bullet Enters an Ordinary Moment
Ongoing Israeli violations of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have left Palestinians in Gaza living with the fear of gunfire that can come without warning. It is ingrained in the details of daily life as gunshots coming from land and sea—from any area in Gaza beyond the Israeli military’s yellow line that demarcates restricted zones for Palestinians—and as bullets that seem random because they reach people without warning.
This gunfire from the Israeli military does not only wound and kill: It leaves people in Gaza with a constant feeling of unease that any ordinary moment, whether it be sitting by the sea, walking to a cafeteria, or talking with a friend, can suddenly turn into a fight for survival as you find yourself under fire without warning.
I speak from firsthand experience. In late May, I went with my friend Saeed to our usual cafeteria in al-Mawasi in southern Gaza to study for my upcoming university exams. We chose a table close to the beach, relieved to have, at least temporarily, escaped the suffocating heat and rats in our tents, which offer no reprieve from harsh summer temperatures.
A few minutes later, we began to hear sounds coming from the direction of the city of Rafah, which is about four miles east and is currently under direct Israeli military control, lying outside the current yellow line. The sound of tank shells echoed loudly nearby—the kind of sound that spreads fear among everyone who hears it. You hear it, but you never know where the shells will fall and whether they will fall on you.
I tried to return to the lecture in front of me, but the sound of tank shells was soon replaced with gunfire coming from Israel’s naval boats in the water by which we sat. At first, we thought the shots were hitting the water or being fired into the air, and that they would not reach the beach. Within moments, the sound of the shots came closer as Israeli officers began targeting and hitting people on the beach and the tents near the shoreline. In the face of a steady stream of bullets, I didn’t know what to do except get down on the ground. The sound of gunfire continued to ring out; people around us were running, hiding, and screaming. I didn’t know whether I should raise my head or stay frozen in place. Then I suddenly heard Saeed groaning in pain, shrieking, “Ah, my shoulder!” I froze, caught between two instincts: Should I stay down, or turn to my friend who had been hit?
After a few minutes, when the sound eased a little, I crawled towards him. A stray bullet had hit his shoulder. I tried to find a car quickly to take him to get medical care, but all we could find was a donkey cart. People nearby helped me carry him onto it as fast as we could—still not knowing whether the gunfire had really stopped or would restart—and rushed to the hospital, where Saeed’s wound was cleaned and treated. Everything moved quickly, in a painfully familiar way characterized by short questions, worried faces, and hands trying to do whatever could be done with what was available. Luckily, the bullet had not reached Saeed’s bone. My friend was in pain, but what stayed in my mind was not only the wound—it was the way an ordinary afternoon sitting by the sea had turned, in seconds, into a scene of bloody violence.
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I returned to my family’s tent thinking about how close death had come to us. I tried to connect my phone to the Internet, not to look for anything specific but to distract my mind from the image of Saeed holding his bloody shoulder. Instead, my screen confronted me with news of Palestinians in Gaza killed and wounded in different parts of the Strip: a strike here, gunfire there, another Israeli attack from land, sea, or air. Since the ceasefire came into effect last October, more than 922 Palestinians have been killed and 2,786 others wounded in violations by the Israeli occupation, adding to a wider toll that has reached 72,941 killed and 172,967 wounded since the beginning of the genocide in October 2023. It was clear that te bullet that hit Saeed was not an isolated incident. It was just one part of a whole day across the enclave in which people were living with the same uncertainty as they tried to do ordinary things.
In the camps, a tent does not protect you from a bullet. On the beach, the sea does not protect you from fear. Even the cafeteria, which people try to make into a place of rest, can suddenly become a place where everyone is looking for an escape route. People in Gaza do not live only under the threat of direct death, but under another constant danger created by the occupation: losing trust in any quiet moment.
That night, when I tried to sleep, every sudden sound snapped me back to the beach and to the image of Saeed holding his shoulder. In Gaza, we can call it a ceasefire, but that doesn’t change what we’re living through. A word alone can’t guarantee our safety. Sometimes one bullet is enough to reveal that life is still suspended between an ordinary moment and a moment of near-death experience.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
