Palestinians fled Gaza City on Wednesday by foot, bicycle, and vehicle as Israeli forces intensified their ground and air offensive. Heavy bombardments across the enclave killed dozens, according to local authorities.
With fresh assurances of “unwavering” US support, the Israeli government announced a major military operation aimed at destroying Hamas. The group’s October 7, 2023 assault in southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
In response, Israeli forces have carried out extensive strikes on the densely populated coastal territory, causing tens of thousands of deaths and widespread humanitarian devastation. Nearly all of Gaza’s two million residents have been repeatedly displaced since the war began.
“It feels like judgement day, or like we are in hell- though hell would be more merciful,” said 36-year-old Fatima Louband, who walked ten kilometres with her four children from Gaza City to Deir al-Balah.
The Israeli army said a new crossing via Salah al-Din Street would remain open until Friday at 11:00 Cyprus time to allow further evacuations.
Rising death toll
The UN estimated that around one million people lived in Gaza City and its suburbs at the end of August. Israel says more than 350,000 have since fled.
Civil defence officials reported at least 64 deaths in Israeli strikes on Wednesday, including 41 in Gaza City alone. In Shati refugee camp, a bombing collapsed a building, killing four people including a woman and her child.
“Enough! We want to live, we don’t want to die. Tell Netanyahu we don’t want to die,” said resident Mohammed al-Danf as rescue workers searched the rubble.
Israeli military operations expand
Israel says it now controls about 75% of the Gaza Strip and has struck over 150 “terror targets” in support of ground troops. The army has been ordered to oust Hamas from Gaza City, one of the movement’s last strongholds.
The assault has drawn condemnation abroad and sparked protests in Israel itself, where families of hostages still held in Gaza demonstrated in Jerusalem.
According to Israeli figures, Hamas’ October 7 attack killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken that day, 47 remain in Gaza, with Israel declaring 25 of them dead.
International concern and regional strikes
The Hamas-run health ministry says at least 65,062 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza since. The UN has declared famine conditions in parts of the enclave, which Israel denies.
In recent days, Israel has also launched strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Hamas leaders in Qatar. On Wednesday, senior Hamas figure Ghazi Hamad appeared live on Al Jazeera from Doha, his first public appearance since the September 9 Israeli strikes there.
Also read: IDF releases video of ground operation in Gaza City
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