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 continue to destroy infrastructure, and the army now claims to control 40% of the city, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbing it the 'last important stronghold' of Hamas.
Netanyahu asserted that 100,000 people had evacuated, yet reports indicate that around a million remain, many living in makeshift shelters. Residents voice their intentions to stay, with some, like Ammar Sukkar, insisting, 'Whether you like it or not, Netanyahu, we're not leaving. This is my land.'
Others, such as Wael Shaban, reveal the desperation of their circumstances, having been given mere minutes to evacuate before strikes occurred. They lament that they cannot afford to escape, as they lack resources even for basic necessities.
Despite the Israeli army's claims of available shelter in humanitarian zones, aid organizations warn that these areas are overcrowded and lacking in essential supplies. The International Committee of the Red Cross has questioned the feasibility of the mass evacuation plan, highlighting the dire conditions facing civilians.
In response, the Israeli military is establishing new aid sites and logistics to support displaced residents. However, there are significant concerns about safety and accessibility, given the potential for airstrikes in designated areas.
Journalists have been granted limited access into Gaza under military oversight, raising concerns about the neutrality and reliability of the reported information. Following extensive military actions in previous months, such as in Rafah, residents fear that this operation could lead to similarly devastating consequences.
As the situation continues to escalate, the tension between the Israeli military's objectives and the dire humanitarian crisis faced by Gaza's population becomes increasingly evident, with residents caught in the crossfire of a complex geopolitical conflict.
Netanyahu asserted that 100,000 people had evacuated, yet reports indicate that around a million remain, many living in makeshift shelters. Residents voice their intentions to stay, with some, like Ammar Sukkar, insisting, 'Whether you like it or not, Netanyahu, we're not leaving. This is my land.'
Others, such as Wael Shaban, reveal the desperation of their circumstances, having been given mere minutes to evacuate before strikes occurred. They lament that they cannot afford to escape, as they lack resources even for basic necessities.
Despite the Israeli army's claims of available shelter in humanitarian zones, aid organizations warn that these areas are overcrowded and lacking in essential supplies. The International Committee of the Red Cross has questioned the feasibility of the mass evacuation plan, highlighting the dire conditions facing civilians.
In response, the Israeli military is establishing new aid sites and logistics to support displaced residents. However, there are significant concerns about safety and accessibility, given the potential for airstrikes in designated areas.
Journalists have been granted limited access into Gaza under military oversight, raising concerns about the neutrality and reliability of the reported information. Following extensive military actions in previous months, such as in Rafah, residents fear that this operation could lead to similarly devastating consequences.
As the situation continues to escalate, the tension between the Israeli military's objectives and the dire humanitarian crisis faced by Gaza's population becomes increasingly evident, with residents caught in the crossfire of a complex geopolitical conflict.
