There is Israeli military is reportedly opening an exit for Palestinians to leave Gaza City as it stepped up efforts on Wednesday to empty the city of civilians and directly confront thousands of Hamas combatants. But many are still sheltering inside Gaza City and are reluctant to follow Israel’s order to move southwards. They fear physical danger, dire conditions, lack of food in the southern area, and fear of permanent displacement from their homes.
“Even if you want to leave Gaza City, is there any guarantee we would be able to come back? Will the war ever end? That’s why I prefer to die here in Sabra, my neighbourhood,” said Ahmed, a school teacher, to the international media.
On Wednesday itself, more than 60 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across the Gaza Strip. Most of these casualties were recorded in Gaza City, according to local health authorities. According to them, the latest fatality count took the Palestinian death toll from the two-year war between Israel and Hamas to over 65,000. But according to Palestinian citizens and rescue operation workers, the true figure is likely higher as many are trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Health authorities in Gaza also reported a drone attack on a specialist children’s hospital, which did not cause any casualties yet forced young patients and their families to move outside.
Gaza City Destroyed
A day after Israel announced the launch of its ground offensive to seize control of Gaza City, tanks started to move short distances towards the central and western areas of Gaza City from all three directions. However, no major advancement was reported.
Gaza City alone earlier had around 2 million people living there. Authorities estimate that about 400,000 people, or 40% of those who were in the city on August 10, have already fled their homes. Meanwhile, Gaza’s media office says that 190,000 have headed south and 350,000 have moved to central and western areas of the city. Now Israel is expecting that the 100,000 civilians left in the main city currently facing the ground operations will also flee.