Manchester scientist trapped in Gaza fears being killed in air strikes

A scientist trapped in Gaza has said he fears being killed by an Israeli air strike "every time he goes outside" to get food for his family.

Mohammed Ghalayini, 44, who lives in Manchester, was visiting 15 Palestinian relatives when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October, killing 1,300 people.

Israeli warplanes and artillery have since been bombarding Gaza in response.

Mr Ghalayini and his family have had to move several times and they are now sheltering in Khan Yunis.

More than 3,000 people have been reported killed in air strikes on Gaza.

Israel has blocked fuel, water, food and medical supplies and is demanding the release of scores of hostages who were taken into Gaza by the Hamas militants.

On Tuesday, hundreds of people were killed in an explosion at a crowded hospital in Gaza City.

Palestinian officials said the blast was caused by an Israeli air strike.

However, the Israeli military denied this and said it was the result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad - an accusation the militant group rejected.

Mr Ghalayini, who is sheltering 15 miles from the hospital, described the incident as a "massacre".

The air quality scientist said: "We were appalled by the attack, the massacre at the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital.

"My father used to work there delivering babies and we have absolutely no doubt that this massacre was due to an Israeli strike.

"Where is international humanitarian law?"

Mr Ghalayini had returned to his hometown of Gaza City in September, intending to stay for three months.

He was on a career break, he said, and had wanted to reconnect with his father and half-brothers.

But now he and his family are trapped in a flat and are finding it difficult to remain hopeful.

"We're really, really struggling in this situation," he said.

"I'm struggling to sleep, we're not eating enough and we're kind of running around the streets trying to get stuff and wondering where the next bomb will fall."

Mr Ghalayini told BBC North West Tonight how, just a few hours earlier, he narrowly escaped the bombing of a market 200 yards from where he is sheltering.

"According to people running away, one of the bombs hit a place that had already been hit so it probably hit people offering assistance," he said.

He called for a ceasefire, adding: "We need this Israeli attack on Palestinians to stop.

"The attack needs to stop and then the international community needs to facilitate a long, just and lasting peace."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was asked earlier if he would join the calls for an immediate ceasefire to protect civilians in Israel and Gaza.

In response, the prime minister said Israel had "a right to defend itself".

"We believe that Israel does have a right to defend itself, to protect its people, and to act against terrorism and ensure that the awful attack that we've seen from Hamas cannot happen again," he told MPs.

"Unlike Hamas, the Israelis, including the president, have made it clear that their armed forces will operate in accordance with international law.

"And we will continue to urge the Israelis to take every precaution to avoid harming civilians."

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