Difficult days for Gaza residents

By Wyre Davies
BBC News, Gaza City

Abu Heni and his friends have seen it all before.

Perhaps that is why, as they sit playing cards, they do not appear overly-concerned with the Israeli incursion that is happening less than three miles from where we are sitting.

Palestinians in Gaza attempt to carry on with normal life

Four men, sitting round a small white table, at the Al Karawan cafe in downtown Gaza. Of course, as Muslims, they do not play for money, just points.

That does not mean the game is not important. Abu Heni gets agitated and shouts at his playing partner when he puts down the wrong card. As far as I can make out what they are playing is a kind of "trumps".

Playing trumps in Gaza City as the death toll rises in fighting on the edge of town.

Abu Heni and his friends say they are concerned. It is just that there is nothing they can do to stop the Israelis attacking Palestinian territory.

"It's happened before" says the 61-year-old retired health official, "and it will happen again".

The first day of the Israeli incursion, on Thursday, when tanks rolled into northern Gaza, was the worst day of violence seen here in a couple of years.

More than 20 Palestinians, militant fighters and civilians, were killed. More than 80, including several children, were wounded.

"Over the years we have seen good days... It's just that at the moment, these are the most difficult days yet Abu Heni, Gaza resident

One Israeli soldier also died in the fighting.

Friday has been quieter, in comparison, but the helicopters have kept firing on militant positions and the heavy sound of artillery fire fills the air.

Several people have also died today, many in the tight dusty streets of Beit Layiha where militants from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades clash with Israeli tanks and troops.

I turn to one of the other card players and suggest to him that the Israeli action would stop if Palestinian militants released the 19-year-old army corporal, Gilad Shalit, whom they abducted almost two weeks ago.

"This has nothing to do with the soldier," says Ehab. "It's a conflict situation. They won't leave us alone, they want to crush what little we have."

A 39-year-old designer, Ehab is younger than his fellow-card players.

Unlike Abu Heni, who is dressed in a traditional Jelabiya [a long white shirt], Ehab prefers a Western-style striped T-shirt and jeans.

Gaza has seen some of its bloodiest violence in months

His outlook and attitude, though, are the same as his friends.

"The Israelis say they've gone into northern Gaza to stop the Qassam [rockets] being fired at Israeli towns. All that's happened is that the brigades [the militants] are sending even more rockets at the enemy. This will only encourage them."

Now I am usually a committed non-smoker but in this noisy, crowded cafe full of agitated card players I sit back and enjoy a Shisha [or hubbly-bubbly as it is known in English].

The double-apple flavour is particularly good and goes down really well with a glass of sweet mint tea.

Above the noise of over-exuberant middle-aged card-sharks it is almost possible to block out the sound of heavy artillery lobbing shells into northern and gunfire from Israeli helicopters.

"Over the years we have seen good days" says Abu Heni, as he thinks for a few seconds before placing a card on the table.

"It's just that at the moment, these are the most difficult days yet."