Local Testimony (Edut Mekomit) 2009
Third Prize News Series 'Out of Bounds' Israel/Gaza War
Photographer: Jim Hollander

Israeli infantry soldiers asleep at a blast barrier just inside southern Israel at the border with the Gaza Strip, on 09 January 2009, as the sun starts to rise and Israel begins the 14th day of operations against what they call Hamas targets inside the Gaza Strip. Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, both sides continue fighting. Resolution 1860 passed with a majority of 14 votes, with the United States abstaining. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Israeli soldiers operate on a damaged tank as they carry out repairs to the engine on a staging area near the Gaza Strip border early on 08 January 2008. Israel continues in its 13th day of operations against Hamas assets inside the Gaza Strip as Palestinian militants continue to launch rockets into Israel. On 08 January for the first time in this conflict several rockets fired from Lebanon hit northern Israel causing damage and some injuries. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Religious Palestinian women tour the rubble of homes demolished by the Israeli army in the east Jabaliya area of the Gaza Strip on 25 January 2009. The women toured the area and visited many of the families who returned to their homes and remian following the Israeli army during three-week offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Palestinian Sheikh sleeps on a mattress in his home, mostly destroyed by the Israeli army during their three-week offensive, in the Sudania neighborhood north of Gaza City on 25 January 2009. Egyptian officials were on 25 January meeting with
representatives of Hamas and other Palestinian factions in talks aimed at turning a one-week ceasefire into a durable truce, Egypt's official Middle East News Agency said. Speaking to the satellite news network al-Arabiya, Ayman Taha, a representative of Hamas from Gaza, said that the group would not agree to an open-ended truce, but was prepared to negotiate an 18-month ceasefire. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A main street leading through a neighborhood in east Jabiliya in the Gaza Strip showing the devastation the Israeli army left in its wake as it gets dark on 22 January 2009. The three-week Israeli war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip left large residential areas and orchards totally demolished by both tanks fire, missile fire, bombs and bulldozers. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

Palestinian family members sit around a campfire as the sun goes down in east Jabiliya in the Gaza Strip on 22 January 2009. They huddle in a makeshift tent near their demolished home. The area was devasted by Israeli offensive during the three-week war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

A Palestinian man kneels in prayer on 22 January 2009 before his home (L), demolished by the Israeeli army during their three-week war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The man's home and those surrounding it were demolished by Israleli tanks and bulldozers as they carried out operations in the Sudania neighborhood north of Gaza City and west of the Jabaliya Refugee Camp during their incursion. Dozens of homes were completely demolished. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

sraelis wat tank starts up with a puff of white h from a hill in southern Israel aas an Israli artillery shell explodes over the northern Gaza Strip and sets off flares that streak to the ground late in the afternoon on 16 January 2009, the 21st day of Israel's war against Hamas. In the background there is smoke and Palestinian buildings demolished by the Israeli military in the recent campaign. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

An Israeli soldier packs up his gear in a staging area along the border with the Gaza Strip as smoke billows from a target Israel had hit inside the Gaza Strip, Southern Israel, late 06 January 2009. An Israeli strike on a UN-school in northern Gaza killed at least 42 Palestinian civilians in the deadliest single incident since Israel launched its offensive in the Strip 11 days ago, health officials said. Gaza emergency services chief Mo'aweya Hassanein told reporters dozens more were injured in the strike on the al-Fakhoura school in the Jabaliya refugee camp, north of Gaza City. UNWRA Spokesman Chris Gunness said he was unable to immediately give details he was unable to reach his own staff in Gaza. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER

An Israeli soldier stands atop a Merkava as seen through a hole in camouflage tenting material at a military staging area along the border with the Gaza Strip on 31 December 2008. The Israeli prime minister has rejected the idea of a 48-hour ceasefire and several thousand more reserve soldiers have been called up in case Israel decides to carry out a ground operation against Hamas assets inside the Gaza Strip on the fifth day of Israel's war against Hamas. EPA/JIM HOLLANDER