Desperate Exodus: Palestinians Flee Gaza City Amid Intensified Israeli Assault

Mon Oct 20 2025 03:24:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

With ground operations escalating, thousands of families in Gaza City are scrambling to escape as Israel intensifies its military campaign. Witness accounts reveal harrowing tales of evacuation, hardship, and the urgent need for humanitarian support.

As Israeli ground operations intensify in Gaza City, thousands of families are fleeing the violence, facing perilous conditions on designated evacuation routes. The situation has sparked international condemnation as humanitarian needs rise amidst ongoing airstrikes and ground assaults. Residents recount the emotional toll of leaving homes and loved ones behind while coping with immense logistical challenges.

Thousands of families are attempting to flee Gaza City as the Israeli military confirms it has begun ground operations that are part of its large-scale assault aimed at occupying the city.

Lina al-Maghrebi, 32, a mother of three from the city's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood told the BBC she had resisted leaving her home - despite the danger - until she received a phone call from an Israeli officer ordering her to evacuate.

I was forced to sell my jewellery to cover the cost of displacement and a tent, she said. It took us 10 hours to reach Khan Younis, and we paid 3,500 shekels (£735) for the ride. The line of cars and trucks seemed endless.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a powerful operation had been launched in Gaza City, which he described as Hamas's last major stronghold.

The Israeli military has designated al-Rashid coastal road as the only permitted route for civilians to use to evacuate. Many have described severe congestion, endless queues of cars and trucks, and long delays, with families stranded on the roadside while airstrikes continue overhead.

The operation has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from the UN human rights chief and German foreign minister.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called the offensive utterly reckless and appalling, saying it would only bring more bloodshed, kill more innocent civilians and endanger the remaining hostages.

Conversely, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to offer tacit support for Israel's operation during a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Monday, arguing that while a negotiated end to the conflict is preferred, dealing with Hamas as a terrorist organization may require decisive military actions.

Israel's ramped-up offensive comes as a United Nations commission of inquiry released a report stating that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has categorically rejected the report’s findings.

Nivin Imad al-Din, 38, a mother of five, fled south after Israeli warplanes dropped evacuation leaflets in her neighborhood, although her husband refused to leave their home.

Overnight into Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes hit several locations, targeting areas densely populated with civilians. The bombardment was described by residents as hell, with many family members injured or killed in the strikes.

Ghazi al-Aloul, another resident, recounted his plight of having to relocate multiple times due to the incessant bombing, stating, I did not choose this. I was forced after leaving the home where my family and I had been sheltering for nearly a month... The bombardment has been insane for hours.