A China Global Television Network (CGTN) stringer living in Israel recalled the chilling and dreadful moment when Iran launched strikes on the country.
Iran launched coordinated drone and missile strikes on Israel late Saturday night in retaliation for a deadly Israeli assault on the Iranian consulate in Syria.
"The Israeli government had already released news around 22:00 last night, informing us that Iran would launch an attack around 23:00 or 24:00, and suggested us to be ready to take cover. After seeing the news, I made some preparations and then went to bed. At around 03:00 in the morning, I was awakened by a loud noise in the sky. I got up to see what was going on, and I wasn't sure if it was the sound of fighter jets or the sound of missiles being intercepted. To be honest, I was a little nervous at that time," said CGTN stringer Nora who is living in the city of Rehovot in Israel's Central District.
Nora said that after the attack, the local people's life order has been restored, with public transportation system operating normally and sufficient supply of goods at supermarkets, but they still worried about the escalation of the conflict.
"I will continue to stay in Israel because of my work. At the same time, I will also pay close attention to the development of the situation. If the war escalates, I will consider returning to China," said Nora.
Israel resident recounts Iran's attack
Student protesters have gathered and built an encampment on the grounds of a university campus in Washington, D.C., as they show support for Palestine, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the cessation of U.S. military aid to Israel.
A wave of demonstrations have erupted on college campuses across the U.S. as people voice their displeasure over the continuing war in the Gaza Strip, with some arrests being made at several sites as tensions have flared up between protesters and police.
Participants have vowed to carry on with the activity, with tents being set up as students remain determined in their calls for a ceasefire in the conflict-ridden enclave. Besan Jaber, a graduate student at the Georgetown University in Washington, said the students remain united in their cause.
"This movement is one of the most beautiful [displays of] people's unity I've ever seen. I'm very proud to be a part of this. I think we understand 100 percent that such demands take time. And the administrations of not just George Washington University but other universities have really repeatedly noted that such demands will require so much time and then also will be costly. And students understand this, the movement very much is aware. But everybody believes that if we don't start anytime now, nothing will change," she said.
Jaber also dismissed accusations of anti-Semitic behavior taking place at the universities and said Jewish supporters are peacefully standing by pro-Palestinian protesters amid wide calls for peace.
"Plenty of images have circulated the Internet that basically show you Jewish students with signs and banners that say Jews are feeling very, very safe here. This is just another tactic of the Zionist propaganda, not just in the U.S., elsewhere as well. I think it's pretty very anti-Semitic to even accuse this movement of being anti-Semitic. This is basically dismissing the effort of the Jewish community in the U.S. that have been really leading, inviting people to participate and moving and mobilizing around this issue. They are the ones who are in the encampment," she said.
Protests have been intensifying across the United States since reports emerged earlier this month of students camping out on the Columbia University campus in New York, calling for the university to financially divest from companies and institutions that "profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine."
In recent days, universities across more than 30 states have seen more and more protests popping pop, with universities and local authorities implementing increasingly tough measures to crack down on the demonstrations, with over 700 people having been arrested so far.
Student protesters camp out at Washington university as calls for Gaza ceasefire intensify
