Israeli forces have stepped up their assault on Gaza City with a wave of heavy air strikes, marking a sharp escalation from previous military operations. Unlike earlier phases of the war, the current offensive has relied heavily on aerial bombardments, with entire apartment blocks and large concrete structures reduced to rubble.
The intensification of strikes in recent days has triggered a surge in civilian displacement. Israel has warned all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive.
On Saturday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said about 250,000 people had left the city and moved south. It also said it had destroyed a high-rise building that it claimed was used "to advance and execute terrorist attacks" against its troops. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Gaza City is Hamas's last major stronghold, although the plan to occupy it has brought international criticism.
The UN warns that an intensification of the offensive on a region where famine has been declared will push civilians into an "even deeper catastrophe." Residents report that the Israeli military targets schools and makeshift shelters, often issuing warnings just moments before bombardments.
Many families are fleeing in darkness toward western Gaza. We escaped certain death, my husband, our three children and I, recounts Saly Tafeesh, a mother sheltering in the city. My brother died in my arms after being shot by a quadcopter drone. We ran in the dark to the west of Gaza. The Israeli military has instructed residents to evacuate to the south, but many families claim they cannot afford the journey, which costs up to $1,100 (£800). Hamas, meanwhile, has intensified calls for residents to stay put and resist leaving the city.
Rubein Khaled, a father-of-nine preparing to move south, expressed frustration at the mixed messages from Hamas leaders, saying, The Hamas preacher at Friday prayers accused anyone leaving Gaza City of being a coward running from the battlefield. He added, But why doesn't he tell Hamas leaders to surrender and release the Israeli hostages so this war can stop? Many families are unwilling to leave their homes but feel they have no choice as the situation escalates.
As the campaign continues, areas that remained largely intact now face imminent threats as Israeli forces systematically dismantle entire districts.
In surrounding international commentary, a Qatari foreign ministry spokesman condemned the Israeli prime minister, reflecting widespread concern over the ramifications of ongoing military operations.
As hostilities persist, humanitarian conditions worsen, prompting urgent calls for ceasefires and international interventions to address the plight of civilians in Gaza.
