Palestinians are fleeing Gaza City in large numbers as Israel intensifies its military offensive on the territory’s main urban center. Many residents have resorted to using tractors, carts, and overloaded vans to escape, leaving behind scenes of destruction marked by bombed-out buildings and pervasive smoke from airstrikes. This mass displacement follows orders from the Israeli military, which has instructed all residents to evacuate immediately, directing them to move southward.
On Tuesday, the Israeli military airdropped leaflets over Gaza City, urging residents to leave the area. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the urgency of the situation, saying, “I say to the residents of Gaza, take this opportunity and listen to me carefully: you have been warned — get out of there.” The evacuation orders have led to widespread panic and confusion among the nearly one million residents, many of whom feel there is nowhere safe to go amid ongoing bombardment and a deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
Local health authorities announced plans to evacuate Gaza City’s two main operational hospitals, Al-Shifa and Al-Ahli, while assuring that doctors would not abandon their patients. The situation remains dire for the roughly 2.2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, as they face increasing violence and humanitarian challenges.
Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing scenes as families attempt to flee. Saeb al-Mobayed, who was escaping Gaza City, recounted, “We were forcibly displaced to the southern Gaza Strip under intensified shelling. Many buildings have been destroyed.” The journey south is fraught with difficulties, and basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter are in short supply. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense agency, stated, “There are no basic necessities for life — no shelter, no space for tents, no food, and no drinking water.”
International critics have raised alarms about Israel’s military strategy, which aims to demilitarise Gaza while asserting security control over the region. Some experts have described Israel’s actions as tantamount to genocide, echoing concerns from humanitarian organizations regarding the worsening plight of civilians. A global hunger monitor supported by the United Nations has officially declared famine conditions in parts of Gaza, including Gaza City.
Since the conflict reignited following Hamas‘s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, retaliatory strikes by Israel have reportedly claimed the lives of at least 64,000 Palestinians, according to figures from the Gaza health ministry.
As Israel prepares for a potential ground operation, with tens of thousands of reservists called up, Netanyahu has warned of a “mighty hurricane” that would devastate Gaza if Hamas does not release hostages and surrender. While Israeli forces have reportedly controlled 40 percent of Gaza City, there are concerns that further military action may complicate ongoing ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending the nearly two-year conflict. The health ministry in Gaza has urgently appealed to the international community to protect the region’s hospitals, warning of a looming humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of thousands of patients and wounded individuals.
Efforts to mediate a ceasefire have faced challenges, and the situation remains fluid as both military and civilian casualties mount. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the residents of Gaza City and the broader region.
