Israel has ordered the entire population of Gaza City to leave, as its forces prepare to capture the north of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli airstrikes have continued to destroy tower blocks, and the army says it now has operational control of 40% of the city, as ground forces prepare to fight what prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the last important stronghold of Hamas.
Netanyahu this week claimed that 100,000 people had left the city, but up to a million are reportedly still living there, many in tents or shelters. Many residents express their unwillingness or inability to leave.
After a strike hit a tower block near his home today, resident Ammar Sukkar appealed to Hamas negotiators to meet under realistic conditions and insisted on staying in the city. Whether you like it or not, Netanyahu, we're not leaving, he declared. Go and deal with Hamas, go and kill them. We're not to blame. And even if we're buried here, we're not leaving. This is my land.
Wael Shaban, also near the targeted tower, explained the dire conditions that forced many to remain: When we came back, the tents, the flour, everything has gone. Nothing is left. It's all to pressure us to go south, but we don't have the money to go. We can't even afford flour to eat. Transport to the south costs 1,500 shekels.
Israeli forces are telling Gaza residents that there are shelters, food, and water available in designated humanitarian zones further south. However, countless aid organizations report that these areas are already overcrowded and lacking essential resources. The International Committee of the Red Cross described the mass evacuation plan as unfeasible and incomprehensible.
The Israeli army is currently constructing a new aid distribution site near Rafah, directing resources and new infrastructure towards alleviating the crisis. The recent efforts to build aid distribution networks are a response to escalating needs, though concerns remain about safety and feasibility.
Rafah, a stark reminder of the past impact of military operations, has gone through heavy destruction during previous conflicts. Currently, military embeds offer limited access for news organizations, restricting independent reporting in the war-torn area.
Despite increasing military oversight and structures in place to tackle the crisis, many remain skeptical about the safety of relocation and ongoing airstrikes targeting shelter areas. Civilians continue to assert their agency amid government pressure, revealing the complexities of the crisis in Gaza City. As ground forces prepare for what may be a decisive confrontation, the humanitarian plight of its residents grows dire with deepening military engagements.
